Kirk thinks globally and acts locally and you'll hear plenty of evidence of that in our conversation as Kirk opens the book on his incredible automotive career so far.
Kirk grew up in the state of Indiana, the heartland of America, and attended Hillsdale College in Michigan, earning a bachelor's degree in finance with a minor in philosophy (including study at Oxford University’s Keble College).
He went to work as a financial analyst and controller for Serra Automotive Group, which runs a network of 42 dealerships represented in seven states. He worked there before returning to school to earn an MBA at the University of Notre Dame.
Kirk then went to work for BMW, and served as a senior executive for two decades including 11 years abroad.
He worked in the late 1990s in Munich, Germany, for the company's chief financial officer. He wrote the CFO's English speeches and other material. On trips to Britain, Kirk had the opportunity to tour Land Rover plants, something he calls beneficial now that he's an owner of and running a Land Rover dealership. It also gave him access to the BMW board at an early age which gave him insights into the inner workings of the company.
In 2008, at age 38, Kirk was given the opportunity to become managing director and CEO at BMW Group Financial Services in China. He spent five years in China, leaving Beijing in 2013 to lead BMW Group Financial Services U.S. in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey.
After a short stint in New Jersey, he returned to Indiana as an owner with his old boss, Joe Serra, at BMW of Schererville. He also married his wife, Wendy, that year. Kirk and his family live outside of Chicago in Oak Brook, Illinois.
Kirk says, "Cars are my passion. To be able to combine a passion with a profession is awesome!"
It is an absolute privilege to be able to share Kirk's story with you. It illustrates his passion and demonstrates the level of commitment that his passion allowed him to bring over the years. It's packed with insights from someone who has been operating at a very senior level across our industry and the globe. I'm excited for you hear this. Kirk's experiences are unique but the lessons are transferable. I look forward to hearing what resonates with you.
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Episode recorded on 17 March 2021
