MINI undergoes yet another Management Shift within a year and a half
BMW Group Announces Leadership Change at MINI
Jean-Philippe Parain, with a career spanning nearly three decades at BMW and MINI, has been appointed as the new Head of MINI, effective October 1, 2025. He will be succeeding Stefan Richmann, who has led the brand for the past year.
Stefan Richmann, who began his career at BMW Group in 1997, oversaw the rollout of the all-new MINI lineup, including the 3-Door Hatch in both gasoline and EV versions, the new Countryman with an all-electric option, and the debut of the Aceman, MINI's first EV-only model. Richmann's tenure at MINI was marked by strong momentum, with sales climbing around 25% by August 2025 compared to the previous year.
Prior to his new role, Parain held positions such as President and CEO of BMW Group Belux, Head of MINI Europe, and Head of Sales Region Europe. He has been responsible for the Sales Region covering Asia-Pacific, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, where MINI and BMW achieved significant growth and reached premium segment leadership under his leadership.
It remains unclear whether MINI will eventually move to BMW's Neue Klasse platform. If it does, it would mark the end of front-wheel-drive electric MINIs, as Neue Klasse models are designed around a rear-mounted motor as standard. The future of the FAAR architecture, which underpins MINI's current gasoline-powered, front-wheel-drive models, remains uncertain.
The leadership change at MINI marks the brand's third change at the top in just over a year. Stefanie Wurst, who was the previous Head of MINI, stepped down in July 2024 after two years in the role. Wurst led MINI through the launch of its new generation of vehicles.
It's unclear whether Richmann had time to finalize the next product strategy which should roll-out after 2030. Parain's extensive experience in various roles within BMW and MINI will undoubtedly bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his new position.
The shuffle continues a period of instability at MINI's top ranks. As the brand moves forward under Parain's leadership, fans and industry observers will be eager to see how he navigates this period and steers MINI towards continued success.
