Former BMW CEO bridges gap between higher ed, global industries

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It was serendipitous when College of Charleston President Andrew Hsu met Knudt Flor. 

Hsu was invited to the former BMW president and CEO’s retirement party last year. Never having met before, the two struck up a brief conversation about higher education not meeting the needs of the industry. Flor said that for BMW that translated into years of additional training for new employees.  

“We had a couple conversations after that,” Hsu said. “And I said, ‘You know, if you don’t like the situation, come and help us change it.’” 

In January, Flor took on the role of College of Charleston’s senior vice president for innovation and industry engagement and distinguished professor of practice. 

In this new role, the former CEO will guide faculty and staff as the college creates innovative curriculum that appeals to both employers and students. He’ll also assist in developing CofC’s new engineering program. 

“Many of our traditional engineering schools that have been there for 100 years are still teaching based on what was needed 50, maybe 100 years ago,” Hsu said. “We have the advantage of building something from scratch. I equate it instead of working on the platform of Honda or Ford, we’re building a Tesla.” 

Through the program, Flor will put to use his 33 years in the manufacturing industry, and the connections he’s created, recruiting businesses around the world to collaborate with the Charleston college. Think global internships, curriculum influenced by brand-name CEOs, European universities sharing their techniques. 

Hsu calls the initiative revolutionary for the school and its strategic plan to broaden diversity, innovation and industry engagement. 

“We want to be the most innovative university in the world… And I think Knudt’s going to help us really speed up innovation on our campus,” Hsu said. 

The college president searched for two years to find an ideal candidate, wanting someone not only with industry, but world experience. Flor began his role as engineer of production at Engine Plant in Munich in 1988 rising to executive roles in Africa, Asia, Europe and North America. For the last five years, he served as president and CEO of BMW Manufacturing Co. in Greer. 

Within his first 10 days on the job at CofC, Flor picked up the phone and secured buy-in from nearly 15 global manufacturing companies. Each jumped on board because they too see a need for a stronger collaboration between higher education and the workforce. 

The advantage of Flor’s past and his successful reputation, he said, is that business leaders trust him to know what he’s talking about.  

“We all have the same problem. This is not a BMW problem,” Flor said. “Industry is the easy part. To get the students, the professors, the progress so that we do not over promise and under deliver, this is the more interesting part.” 

To revamp the industry, Flor envisions new professors, closer relationships with businesses, internships where students solve real-time industry problems.  

His goal is to put changes into action this year because the industry is already evolving.  

“This has to be an undergraduate program in very, very close relationship with the industry because we need to gain a lot of speed,” Flor said. “When a student goes through a four-year cycle they need to be ready when they leave the college. 

The former CEO joked he could have enjoyed his retirement a little longer—preferably on the golf course— but Hsu’s “pull” drew him back to work. Flor calls academia his fifth continent, a new challenge to his leadership toolbox.  

“If there’s a pull, there are people that want to change, and that is at the end the driving force — the willingness to change,” Flor said. “Not to talk about it and do what you’ve always done.” 

This new role provides him the opportunity to act, to create positive change throughout not only South Carolina, but potentially the globe. If the state doesn’t have the workforce, fix it. Connect with industry leaders and state legislators, parents and schools. Refocus the education system to encourage students to study physics, mathematics. Show them the industry isn’t dirty and neglected. Attract them to jobs and help change realize how expansive their future is. 

“We have money. We have technology. We have investment in the issue. Our biggest issue is people,” Flor said. “Business is people… people bring headcount. And people are willing to stay in South Carolina.”