GM overhauls sales, marketing; Reuss gets more clout

[NINETY EIGHT REGENCY]

GM overhauls sales, marketing; Reuss gets more clout

Automotive News -- March 2, 2010 - 2:12 pm ET

DETROIT -- General Motors Co. today overhauled its U.S. sales and marketing staff for the third time since emerging from bankruptcy, giving North America President Mark Reuss responsibility for sales.

Vice President Susan Docherty, 47, who had been in charge of North American sales and marketing, will run U.S. marketing only. She reports to Reuss, 46. Automotive News reported the planned shake-up Sunday.

The changes also end high-profile designer Bryan Nesbitt's stint as head of Cadillac sales and marketing. Nesbitt will take a design position.

The move reverses changes made in December after the departure of CEO Fritz Henderson. At that time, Docherty was promoted to vice president for sales, marketing, service and OnStar. She previously was in charge of sales.

The moves reflect CEO Ed Whitacre's impatience for results in boosting GM's image and sales. When he became chief executive in December, Whitacre said he wanted quick results in sales and marketing.

GM also reversed course at the brand level, moving to separate the sales and marketing functions.

Senior brand marketing executives will report to Docherty. They are:

• Jim Campbell, U.S. marketing vice president, Chevrolet. He sheds his Chevrolet sales responsibilities.

• Don Butler, U.S. marketing vice president, Cadillac. He rejoins the company from Inrix, a telematics company.

• John Schwegman, U.S. marketing vice president, Buick-GMC. Schwegman was most recently Chevrolet product marketing director.

In the sales organization, sales leaders for the brands report directly to Reuss. They are:

• Alan Batey, vice president of sales and service for Chevrolet. Batey was most recently president and managing director of GM's Holden operations in Australia. A replacement for Batey will be named.

• Brian Sweeney, who remains with Buick-GMC as sales and service vice president. He drops his marketing responsibilities.

• Kurt McNeil, U.S. sales and service vice president, Cadillac. McNeil was previously general sales manager, Chevrolet.

Nesbitt is leaving his post as Cadillac brand chief, which he took in August, and returning to the design organization as executive director, advanced concept group. He reports to Ed Welburn, vice president of global design.

Read more: http://www.autonews.com/article/20100302/OEM02/100309971/1018#ixzz0h38gYUOL

[hyperv6]

Well we said GM needs to do better in Marketing. Either they finally woke up or they heard us talking about them.

[RJB]

Still TOO MANY MANAGERS and TOO MANY POSISTIONS!!GM can possibly be the only company that can have 12 posistions that maybe 2 can do, and not only that but there is probably layers upon layers of people under those 12 managers. That is why they are still out of touch with reality and what needs to be done. Old GM same as the "new?" GM.