Alexander Karaylovich succeeds Dirk Haecker as BMW M head of development

BMW M is opening a new chapter: Alexander Karaylovich takes over as head of development, succeeding Dirk Haecker, who spent 37 years with BMW Group and, since 2015, steered the development of M models. His tenure coincided with an unprecedented product push, a marked rise in quality, and record sales for the M-series sports cars.

Karaylovich knows the M world from the inside. From January 2021 to May 2023, he served as vice president for the BMW M product line and led the BMW XM project—one of the brand’s key steps toward high-performance hybrids. Earlier, he supervised the X-derivatives sub-line and worked within BMW Group’s overall development, responsible for requirements, concepts, and the integration of driving characteristics.

Haecker joined the company back in 1988 and, from the early 2000s, held leading roles in vehicle dynamics and development, while also serving as a BMW Driving Experience instructor. His name is closely tied to what modern M cars have become—machines many drivers still regard as among the best for pure behind-the-wheel enjoyment.

For Karaylovich, the brief is clear: keep that standard intact and carry classic M DNA into an electrified age. With deep experience inside the division and direct involvement in a key hybrid program, the handover feels both logical and well aligned with the road ahead for M.