THE repercussions from the explosive boardroom resignations at BMW and Rover appears to have claimed another victim. Tom Purves has lost his position as Rover's sales and marketing director and has been given the position of heading BMW's American sales and distribution regions from next month.

The decision by the German manufacturer to take Purves away from Rover UK comes less than four months after Rover chairman Dr Walter Hasselkus was forced to quit having admitted he 'got it wrong' in underestimating the crisis it was in. Two months later BMW chairman Bernd Pischetsrieder and Dr Wolfgang Reitzle, head of market and product stood down. The latest re-organisation, BMW claims, is part of an adjustment of sales and distribution division which see the establishment of five world regions with full responsibility for sales and distribution of all brands within the group - BMW, Rover, Land Rover, Mini and MG.