GM takes clean sweep of management

General Motors Company, the US government controlled company that has taken over the ‘good’ parts of GM, has swept the broom through senior management, announcing major changes in more than 20 senior roles.

Most significant, and interestingly indicating a trend for moving senior GM Europe staff back to the US before that business is sold off, Brent Dewar, GM’s European sales chief, has been named the new boss of Chevrolet.

Mr Dewar will become vice president of Chevrolet as part of a sweeping overhaul involving appointments and departures for about two-dozen executives.

As CarAdvice told you yesterday Bryan Nesbitt, currently chief of GM’s North American design, will become general manager of Cadillac.

Susan Docherty, will remain in charge of Buick and GMC as general manager, where she had previously had the title of vice president.

All three brand leaders will report to Bob Lutz, 77, who was named vice chairman of marketing as GM emerged from bankruptcy two weeks ago. He plans to make design the focus of GM’s advertising message.

Ed Peper, who was vice president in charge of Chevrolet, will take responsibility for Cadillac sales as general manager.

The intent is to integrate product design, marketing and advertising while allowing sales to have a separate focus. In that vein,Mr Peper will report to Mark LaNeve, vice president in charge of US sales and service.

Cadillac’s interim general manager, Steve Hill, 49, was named general manager of retail sales support.

The broom has swept several senior managers out the door with Gary Cowger, group vice president, global manufacturing and labour relations; Ralph Szygenda, group vice president and chief information officer; Troy Clarke, group vice president and president, GM North America; Maureen Kempston Darkes, group vice president, GM Latin America, Africa and Middle-East; and Michael Grimaldi, GM Vice President and CEO GM Daewoo all departing the company.