DETROIT, April 3, 2008 /PRNewswire/ -- Rick Wagoner, GM chairman and chief
executive officer, today announced the following executive retirements and
appointments:
-- John Middlebrook, 67, GM vice president, global sales, service and
marketing operations, will retire effective July 1, 2008.
-- Jonathan Browning, 48, GM Europe vice president, sales, marketing and
aftersales, is appointed GM vice president, global sales, service and
marketing, effective June 1, 2008.
-- W. W. Brent Dewar, 53, GM North America vice president, field sales,
service and parts, is appointed GM Europe vice president, sales,
marketing and aftersales, effective June 1, 2008.
"John Middlebrook has made tremendous contributions to GM in a variety of
roles over the past 49 years," said Wagoner. "He is well known and highly
respected and admired throughout the industry as a true sales and marketing
professional. I've enjoyed working closely with John in the past several
years as he has led GM's efforts to integrate and leverage our sales and
marketing capabilities globally."
Middlebrook's career spanned assignments with Pontiac, Saturn and
Chevrolet divisions, as well as the Worldwide Product Planning Group and the
Marketing and Product Planning Staff. He served as GM vice president, general
manager, vehicle brand marketing and corporate advertising. Middlebrook is a
graduate of the General Motors Institute (now Kettering University) with a
bachelor's degree in engineering, and earned a master's degree in marketing
from Michigan State University.
In recent years, GM has expanded rapidly in global markets. Last year, GM
sold 9.37 million vehicles worldwide, and the company had record sales in its
three regions outside of North America: Asia-Pacific, Europe, and Latin
America, Africa and the Middle East. During this period, the Chevrolet brand
has also grown rapidly outside North America, selling a total of 4.5 million
vehicles in 2007.
"Jonathan Browning brings a wealth of experience in automotive sales and
marketing in the European market to this position," said Wagoner. "He played
a key role in making GM the fastest growing major manufacturer in Europe, with
a well developed multi-brand strategy. I look forward to working closely with
Jonathan in his new global position."
"Brent Dewar has been a strong leader in GM's sales and marketing
operations in the U.S., Canada and Brazil for many years, and he has a strong
track record of working closely and effectively with GM dealers," said
Wagoner. "This broad experience makes him an excellent choice to lead our
sales and marketing activities in the growing and rapidly changing European
region."
General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM), the world's largest automaker, has been
the annual global industry sales leader for 77 years. Founded in 1908, GM
today employs about 266,000 people around the world. With global headquarters
in Detroit, GM manufactures its cars and trucks in 35 countries. In 2007,
nearly 9.37 million GM cars and trucks were sold globally under the following
brands: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, GM Daewoo, Holden, HUMMER, Opel,
Pontiac, Saab, Saturn, Vauxhall and Wuling. GM's OnStar subsidiary is the
industry leader in vehicle safety, security and information services. More
information on GM can be found at www.gm.com .
SOURCE General Motors Corporation
Dee Allen, +1-586-986-5179, +1-313-549-0005 (cell), dee.allen@gm.com, or
Nelson Silveira, +41-44-828-2515, +41-79-834-1858 (cell),
nelson.silveira@ch.gm.com, both of General Motors Corp.
