Ludwig Willisch, the always well-turned-out CEO of BMW of North America, began his automotive career as a Porsche salesman in Germany in 1979 while still in college. He later sold Volkswagens and Audis before joining BMW in 1996, running the company-owned dealership in Dusseldorf, Germany.

Willisch has headed BMW sales subsidiaries in Sweden, Japan and Germany and been in charge of sales for the 28 European markets outside Germany. He also ran the M performance unit for two years.

"My life changed when I became the president of BMW Rover Sweden in the late '90s," he said. "Ever since then, things have moved so that I am sitting here as the head of the Americas."