WOODCLIFF LAKE, N.J. — BMW Group shuffled part of its senior management team late last week, including the appointment of a new chief operating officer for BMW Group Financial Services Americas.

The automaker first revealed that effective Sept. 1, Wayne Orchowski — currently vice president of the Eastern region for BMW of North America — will assume the role of vice president of operations North America and COO of BMW Group Financial Services Americas.

In his new role, management explained Orchowski will have overall leadership responsibility for the BMW Group Financial Services Regional Service Center in Ohio. Officials also stressed he will be counted on to deliver operational excellence to more than 1,200 dealers and 900,000 lease and loan customers across the U.S. and Canada.

Meanwhile, BMW also indicated who will succeed Orchowski as vice president for the Eastern Region. That position will be filled by Jack Pitney, who currently is vice president of marketing of the brand for BMW of North America.

In this new function, the automaker noted Pitney will assume the overall leadership role for all sales, marketing, after-sales and dealer development activities in the 12-state Northeast region. That area encompasses 93 BMW and 24 Mini dealers and includes the New York metro area.

With a sales volume of more than 75,000 new vehicles a year, management said the Northeast is BMW of North America's largest region in the U.S.

Finally, the automaker said Pitney's successor as head of BMW brand marketing in the U.S. will be announced by Sept. 1.

The manufacturer recounted that Orchowski joined BMW of North America in 1985 and has worked as a vice president in the sales department for more than 11 years in a trio of different roles.

During his current assignment as head of BMW of North America's Eastern region, BMW asserted Orchowski diligently led the regional team through the last recession with the most resilient and consistent sales results in the company's four regions.

Executives also mentioned Pitney joined BMW of North America in 1995 and has led BMW brand marketing, product planning and strategy activities since 2005. They declared Pitney has a track record of positive results for the company.

This April, BMW was recognized as the most valuable automotive brand by the market research firm Millward Brown. In a first for the company, BMW of North America's marketing agency GSD&M also was selected last year as BMW's lead creative agency worldwide.

Furthermore, the automaker highlighted that Pitney also successfully introduced new vehicles like the 1 Series and the X5d and 335d AdvancedDiesels to the U.S. Previously Pitney spearheaded the introduction of the Mini brand to the U.S.

"At BMW, we encourage a consistent broadening of skills and experiences of our senior management," explained Jim O'Donnell, president of BMW of North America.

"Both Wayne and Jack have shown an outstanding performance in their functions and we thank them for their continuous excellent commitment to achievements, and at the same time look forward to even more accomplishment in the future," O'Donnell concluded.