BMW VP Jack Pitney killed in farm accident

BMW North American marketing vice president Jack Pitney was killed in an accident on his farm on Aug. 26, the company announced in a statement. He was 47.

Additional details were not immediately available.

Pitney had been tapped to take over as vice president of BMW's eastern region, which is its largest sales zone, on Sept. 1. He had held the top marketing job for five years.

Pitney started with BMW in 1995 and was instrumental in convincing company brass to sell Mini in North America. He was also the brand's first U.S. boss and a former BMW corporate communications chief.

By Greg Migliore