General Motors names Buick head Susan Docherty to replace Mark LaNeve as US sales chief
Less than a week after reporting a sharp drop in September sales, GM said its U.S. sales chief is leaving as the automaker struggles to prop up its falling share of the market.
General Motors Co. CEO Fritz Henderson announced the departure of Mark LaNeve on Wednesday during a conference call with media and investors. LaNeve, 50, is taking a job at a firm outside the auto industry effective Oct. 15, GM spokesman John McDonald said.
The automaker has named Susan Docherty, current general manager of the company's Buick-GMC brand, to replace LaNeve, effective Oct. 16. Docherty, 46, also will become a member of the executive committee.
"Susan will bring a wealth of experience from previous marketing and sales assignments," Henderson said. "I have confidence that she will bring a new perspective to the position as she guides a new, lean, and customer-focused dealer network."
GM's September U.S. sales plunged 45 percent, a big letdown that followed the government's Cash for Clunkers program in July and August. So far this year, its sales are down 36 percent.
GM's global market share stood at 11.9 percent in the third quarter, down from 12.4 percent in 2008, largely because of falling sales in the U.S. and Canada, Henderson said. In the U.S., GM's control of the market fell to 19.5 percent in the third quarter from 22.1 percent in 2008. Other regions are performing better than expected.
LaNeve has told dealers that his departure was not a reflection of the company's product or marketing plans, McDonald said. He added that the consolidation and closing of dealerships had taken a toll on him. GM had 6,375 U.S. dealers at the end of 2008 and expects to have 5,600 by the end of this year.
LaNeve had been in charge of sales and marketing until July 10, the day GM emerged from bankruptcy protection, when Henderson took marketing away and put it in the hands of veteran executive Bob Lutz.
Lutz, who had served as head of product development and dropped plans to retire, had expressed disdain for GM's previous marketing efforts. Almost immediately, he ordered changes to ads to make them focus on vehicles and brands, comparing them with competitors in an effort to get customers to consider GM.
General Motors names Buick head Susan Docherty to replace Mark LaNeve as US sales chief -- baltimoresun.com
General Motors Co. CEO Fritz Henderson announced the departure of Mark LaNeve on Wednesday during a conference call with media and investors. LaNeve, 50, is taking a job at a firm outside the auto industry effective Oct. 15, GM spokesman John McDonald said.
The automaker has named Susan Docherty, current general manager of the company's Buick-GMC brand, to replace LaNeve, effective Oct. 16. Docherty, 46, also will become a member of the executive committee.
"Susan will bring a wealth of experience from previous marketing and sales assignments," Henderson said. "I have confidence that she will bring a new perspective to the position as she guides a new, lean, and customer-focused dealer network."
GM's September U.S. sales plunged 45 percent, a big letdown that followed the government's Cash for Clunkers program in July and August. So far this year, its sales are down 36 percent.
GM's global market share stood at 11.9 percent in the third quarter, down from 12.4 percent in 2008, largely because of falling sales in the U.S. and Canada, Henderson said. In the U.S., GM's control of the market fell to 19.5 percent in the third quarter from 22.1 percent in 2008. Other regions are performing better than expected.
LaNeve has told dealers that his departure was not a reflection of the company's product or marketing plans, McDonald said. He added that the consolidation and closing of dealerships had taken a toll on him. GM had 6,375 U.S. dealers at the end of 2008 and expects to have 5,600 by the end of this year.
LaNeve had been in charge of sales and marketing until July 10, the day GM emerged from bankruptcy protection, when Henderson took marketing away and put it in the hands of veteran executive Bob Lutz.
Lutz, who had served as head of product development and dropped plans to retire, had expressed disdain for GM's previous marketing efforts. Almost immediately, he ordered changes to ads to make them focus on vehicles and brands, comparing them with competitors in an effort to get customers to consider GM.
General Motors names Buick head Susan Docherty to replace Mark LaNeve as US sales chief -- baltimoresun.com
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