Harald Krüger, BMW CEO since May of this year, appeared to become dizzy and fell backwards while conducting a press conference on the opening day of the Frankfurt International Auto Show. He was immediately helped to his feet and was escorted off the stage under his own power.
The 49-year old head of the BMW Group was treated by a physician after the incident for what BMW spokesperson Maximilian Schoeberl described as a “moment of dizziness.” Schoeberl also said that Krüger was stable and recovering well, adding, “His condition is not worrisome, they've ruled out anything serious.”
Krüger had been traveling abroad recently and was not feeling well prior to the event, but decided to go ahead with it anyway.
BMW Chief Financial Officer Friedrich Eichiner filled in for Krüger at a later scheduled press roundtable.
When the head of one of the world's most successful and respected companies has a possible health issue in public, the world notices. We can't imagine a more hectic time for BMW executives than the opening of the Frankfurt Auto Show, as CEO Krüger may have just demonstrated today. We hope he rests up and comes back strong.—Scott Blazey
[Photo courtesy of Reuters.]
