At BMW we create driving pleasure from the perfect combination of dynamic, sporty performance, ground-breaking innovations and breath-taking design. Our team find inspiration everywhere, especially from those who are pioneers in their respective fields.
The BMW ‘Friends of the Brand’ network includes a host of leading figures from the worlds of broadcasting, motorsport, golf, design and luxury hospitality. All are independent thinkers who strive for the highest performance every day.
Paul Ainsworth.
Paul Ainsworth is a British chef, restaurateur and hotelier based in Cornwall. Included in his portfolio of Padstow restaurants are his Michelin-star restaurant Paul Ainsworth at No6, Ci CI’s Bar, and Caffe Rojano, and his six-suite Michelin Key boutique hotel, Padstow Townhouse. Across the Camel Estuary in Rock are The Mariners Public House and the St Enodoc, a 23-suite hotel, dining, wedding, and events destination. In 2025 Paul released his first ever cookbook, the Sunday Times bestseller For the Love of Food.
Loyle Carner.
Loyle Carner is one of this generation’s most important young artists. A musician, writer, director, producer, entrepreneur and actor, Loyle first emerged with A Little Late EP, and has since forged a signature blend of unflinching, diaristic lyricism with ambitious, genre-disruptive sounds. Having been twice shortlisted for the Mercury Prize - and scored further BRIT and NME & MOBO Award nominations - Carner has since cultivated an impassioned worldwide following, with 1.1B streams and sold-out shows including Victoria Park, Alexandra Palace, Wembley Arena, Eventim Apollo, O2 Academy Brixton and Royal Albert Hall in his beloved London hometown alone. Loyle Carner’s impact has never been clearer: the same local hero, now rightly regarded as one of the UK’s most vital voices.
Tommy Banks.
Tommy Banks is one of the most innovative and exciting restauranteurs in the UK. He was the youngest ever Michelin star winner at aged 24 and now boasts two Michelin stars and a green star for sustainability. He owns two Michelin star restaurants; The Black Swan and Roots York and The Abbey Inn pub.
Nick Dougherty.
Nick Dougherty is former 3 x European Tour winning Golfer and top 50 player in the world. Now a broadcaster, Nick is the lead anchor for Sky Sports Golf and creator of the hugely popular Tee Time Tips content and events brand. Nick also holds the position of President of The Golf Foundation.
Ross Edgley.
Ross is most recognised for completing the World's Longest Staged Sea Swim in 2018, when he became the first person in history to swim 1,780 miles around Great Britain, in 157 days. In 2024, he also became the first person in history to hold Official Guinness World Records in the sea and river when he completed a 317 miles non-stop swim down the Yukon River, Canada.
Charlie Martin.
Charlie Martin is a British racing driver and transgender rights activist, who competes in endurance racing. Charlie made LGBTQ+ history this year as the first transgender competitor to compete in the support race of the 24hrs of Le Mans, finishing in 2nd class.
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Russell Tovey.
Russell is a writer, curator and award-winning actor. He is also an art collector and co-hosts art podcast, Talk Art, with friend and gallerist Robert Diament. Their aim is to make art more accessible through interviewing leading artists about their shared passion of art and have interviewed world renowned names.