Docherty Replaces LaNeve: GM's Cultural Revolution More Like Musical Chairs

Did you think that finally sacking Mark LaNeve might have been another step in the direction towards the “culture change” promised land? Time for some new meds. And while we usually have to sit on our sour-puss predictions for a few days before being proven right, GM decided to back us up early this time. Automotive News [sub] reports that none other than Buick-GMC boss Susan Docherty will be replacing LaNeve at the pinnacle of the GM sales operation. “She brings a fresh perspective to the job and she has an extraordinarily high level of energy,” says Fritz Henderson. By which he means she’s a lifer, and owes her career to the timid, inept culture Henderson is simultaneously a product of and ostensibly bent on breaking.

And despite having said just hours ago that “I do think there is a benefit to bringing in outsider. I think we would benefit from fresh perspective,” good-old-boy Fritz managed to lock hope-and-change Fritz in a closet for this decision. “I’d be very nervous about putting someone into the sales function who didn’t understand how it worked at the time we’re going through a dealer restructuring like we’re doing,” is Fritz’s self-justifying verdict. After all, if he really believed in changing GM, would he let himself stay in charge? “Mark’s done a heck of a job in a very difficult environment going through this,” Henderson continued, removing any doubt that he’ll be the next GM insider to be dragged away from the mess kicking and screaming. “I give him enormous credit.”

To be fair, hope-and-change Fritz also points out (very accurately) that GM’s bailout-baby status makes it hard to hire outsiders. GM is still waiting for guidelines for hiring and compensation. On the other hand, even if GM could offer big stock option packages to outside talent, well, there is no stock. And if there were stock, it would be worthless. So why not perpetuate the sclerotic stranglehold of lifer execs? What else was the bailout for?