Knudt Flor retired in September 2021 from the position as President and CEO of BMW Manufacturing Co. LLC, Spartanburg, South Carolina, USA.
He has over 33 years Leadership and Executive Experience within the BMW Group Global Production Network, held several Plant Director, COO and CEO Positions in operational business and strategic central functions in BMW Headquarter Munich, Germany. Widely recognized for his achievements in Intercultural Leadership, Manufacturing, Logistics, Quality, Industry 4.0 Implementation.
Flor began his career with BMW in 1988 at the Engine Plant in Munich as Production Engineer, following his academic degree in Mechanical Engineering and first business experience at Volkswagen Group. He then served in several roles in Quality Assurance and Quality Management at the BMW Munich plant in Germany, parallel obtaining Qualifications as Quality Engineer and Auditor. From 1996-2000, he took his first international assignment and worked at the US BMW Spartanburg plant as Manager for Quality Assurance of Vehicle Assembly and Purchased Parts.
He has been Director of International Oversea Logistics for the BMW Group, Director of the BMW Engine Plant in Munich Germany, Director of BMW Vehicle Plant Rosslyn in South Africa and Senior Vice President of Manufacturing and Technology at BMW Brilliance Automotive Joint Venture in Shenyang, China. In total 14 years of international experience (9 years USA, 3 years China, 2 years South Africa) beside Germany.
BMW Group worldwide (BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce) he served as Senior Vice President of Corporate Quality with direct report to the Chairman of the Board.
Flor is active in the community at a local and national level. He is a Founding Director of South Carolina Fraunhofer USA Alliance. He served as chairman of the board of directors for Autos Drive America in 2021 and as board member for the German American Chamber of Commerce of the Southern United States, Inc.
In September 2021 he was awarded by the Governor of South Carolina with the ‘Order of the Palmetto’ the highest civilian honor, in recognition for improving competitiveness of industry operations in the state of South Carolina.
Recently he was appointed by the College of Charleston, SC, as Senior Vice President for Innovation and Industry engagement and Distinguished Professor of Industry Practice. Office of the President.