Probably it's the same exec who decided BMW steering should become numb and lifeless, apparently to remind drivers that BMWs are luxury cars first and fun cars second.
And to anticipate the response, no, this wasn't inevitable as steering became more electrical. At the same time, several other carmakers produced far superior electric steering systems to BMW's (e.g. Audi, Porsche). About 2012 BMW made a design choice to dumb down the steering response of all their cars, IMO thereby dissing BMW's very identity as the ultimate driver's car. Now I'm not sure they'll ever be able to reclaim those 60+ years of proud history they so cluelessly dismissed.