Christian Salzmann
Vice President BMW Group Global Software Strategy, -Factory and -Platforms,
BMW AG

Christian Salzmann is a highly accomplished professional with a strong background in computer science and extensive experience in the automotive industry. He began his academic journey at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), where he obtained his Master's degree in Computer Science from 1991 to 1997. During this time, he also pursued a second Master's degree at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, further enhancing his expertise in the field.

In 1997-1998, Christian Salzmann expanded his knowledge as a Visiting Researcher at the University of South Australia before embarking on his doctoral studies at the Technical University of Munich, where he successfully completed his PhD in Computer Science from 1998 to 2002.

Since 2003, Christian has been an integral part of the BMW Group in Munich, Germany, holding various key positions within the company. He started as a Team Lead for Software Infrastructure at BMW CarIT from 2003 to 2006 and later served as the Head of Central Gateway ECUs from 2006 to 2012. His leadership skills and technical expertise led him to become the Head of Software Development for Body and ADAS from 2012 to 2013, followed by roles as Head of Software Development for Automotive Core Functions from 2013 to 2017 and Head of Software Platform for ADAS and Autonomous Driving.

In recognition of his exceptional contributions, Christian was appointed Managing Director of BMW Car IT in 2017 before taking on the role of Senior Vice President for Connected Company, Electronics, and Autonomous Driving at BMW China from 2019 to 2024. During this time, he also served as Chairman of the Board of Directors at BMW ArcherMind Information Technology Co., Ltd. In his current position since 2024, Christian Salzmann serves as Vice President for Global Software Strategy, Factory, and Platforms, continuing to drive innovation and excellence in software development within the automotive industry.