GM's New Division Heads Consolidate Power
As discussed in the last General Motors Death Watch, GM is reorganizing into four divisions: Bugmontiac (Buick, GMC, Pontiac), Summilac (Saab, Hummer, Cadillac), Chevy and Saturn. Automotive News [sub] reports that the internal realignment has begun. Scorecards ready? "The [new] channel heads report to Mark LaNeve, GM's vice president of vehicle sales, service and marketing. Meanwhile, GM is eliminating much of GM's central sales organization. When Brent Dewar, North America vice president of field sales, service and parts, moves to become marketing chief of GM Europe, that position won't be filled. Regional sales manager jobs will be eliminated, with regional sales staff reporting to yet-to-be-named sales managers for the channels. Those jobs likely will be in Detroit. That gives added power to channel heads, three of whom also become vice presidents of GM North America: Peper, Docherty and McNabb." Hey! No VP (with jet) for Saturn? "Marketing chief LaNeve says that is because Saturn is a smaller-volume channel than the others." Just what GM needs right now: a bureaucratic power struggle. As TTAC commentator Robert Schwartz said, "Deck chairs. Titanic."
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I guess this will be the battle of the shrunken heads.
What does GM have to do to make happy with you guys? The article reads like they heard you and are trying to get a solution in gear. And I didn't read "Wagoner or Lutz," once. Here, have some Kool-Aid...