Franciscus (Frank) van Meel reassumes his role as the head of M after being in charge of product at Rolls-Royce and BMW’s luxury division for the past three years.

He was previously the head of M – which has status as an independent automobile manufacturer – from 2015 to 2018.

At M, he replaces Markus Flasch, who moves to take over Mr van Meel’s previous job in charge of the Rolls-Royce and BMW luxury product lines.

BMW said that during Mr Flasch’s tenure with M, it pushed BMW to become the world’s leading provider of performance and high-performance automobiles.

Mr Flasch’s leadership also oversaw the launch of new M models, including the M2 CS, the first-ever M5 CS and the current M3/M4 models including the soon-to-be-revealed M3 Touring performance wagon.

He goes to the large-car luxury division of the company as Rolls-Royce prepares a new model range – including EVs – and to BMW where it is developing new model ranges based on the Cluster Architecture (CLAR) platform.

While away from the M division, Mr van Meel was responsible for the production development of BMW Group’s new technology flagship, the iX.

He also headed development of BMW’s upcoming pure EV model variants and brings to BMW the “ideal prerequisites to also shape the next stages already commenced on the way to electrification at the BMW M”, the company said.

He will oversee other new models for M, including its first bespoke SUV and plug-in hybrid models, and next year’s release of the new M2 and M4 CSL.

M’s motorsport activities will also be revived with a return to endurance car racing in 2023 with an all-new Le Mans Daytona h (LMDh) racer to compete in the North American ISMA series.

Mr van Meel rejoins M a year before it celebrates the 50th anniversary of its founding as BMW Motorsport GmbH.

The celebrations will include the showing of the first BMW M3 Touring, which is already in an advanced stage of its series development process.

By Neil Dowling