Batey moves to Chev

Recently promoted President for GM North America, Mark Reuss has announced sweeping changes to the senior management team under his leadership. Reuss, best remembered in this country for heading up Holden, has moved through the ranks quickly since leaving Australia, as recently as August last year.

It's a reflection of the need for change at the pointy end of the GM hierarchy that he has been on such a meteoric rise through the ranks. And there are some clinging to his coat tails; not least of them, the incumbent Holden MD, Alan Batey.

Batey, continuing the recent Holden tradition of remaining in the top job for about 'five minutes', is just one GM executive who is moving up in the hierarchy following Reuss's announcement overnight.

"It's become extremely clear to me since taking this role that there is a better way to structure this organization," Reuss said in his address.

"The premise of the structure is simple -- a clearer marketing focus to sell more vehicles, and freeing our sales and service experts to focus on customers and dealers.

"In order to be successful in North America, we need the right mix of product, people and structure. We've worked with a small group of executives to align this model and appoint the best candidates for each job."

All the appointments announced will take immediate effect, leaving Holden without an MD in the immediate short term.

Changes to the management structure include Susan Docherty's assumption of the Vice President US marketing role. Docherty previously oversaw sales as well, but is now concentrating on marketing alone. She'll have marketing VPs for GM's different divisions reporting to her. These include Jim Campbell for Chevrolet, Don Butler for Cadillac (Butler has rejoined GM for this role), John Schwegmann for Buick-GMC (previously product marketing director for Chevrolet).

Hiving off the sales effort from the marketing thrust leaves room for Batey in his new role at Chevrolet, Brian Sweeney at Buick-GMC and Kurt McNeil at Cadillac. McNeil was formerly general sales manager for Chevrolet. All three appointees will report directly to Reuss, indicating how concerned he is with the sales situation for GM.

Steve Carlisle from GM's South East Asia Operations will head up the dealer network and retail sales support (along with fleet and commercial) as VP, also reporting to Reuss. In his South-East Asian role he will be replaced by Martin Apfel.

Other announcements include the shift in role from design leader at Cadillac to executive director of the advanced concept group, for Bryan Nesbitt. PR boss Chris Preuss will leave communications to accept the role of President, OnStar -- GM's telematics brand. He replaces Walt Dorfstatter, who will take on executive director in global product operations.

"This is my team," concluded Reuss. "Leaders with exceptional talent from around the world, combined with strategic thinking from outside. They are the right team for GM North America now, hand-picked and put in place to win."

A replacement for Batey at Holden will be announced later.

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