DETROIT, April 29 (Reuters) - The general manager of General Motors Corp.'s Buick and Pontiac-GMC divisions has quit the automaker to head the Los Angeles office of advertising firm Saatchi & Saatchi Plc .
Ritter, a 32-year veteran with GM, will direct Toyota Motor Corp.'s North American marketing efforts at Saatchi, the advertising firm said.
Ritter's new position comes just two months after he was promoted to head the Buick and Pontiac-GMC divisions, which GM aligned as it prepared to boost Buick sales with the addition of more vehicles.
Ritter, 53, previously headed GM's Chevrolet division, and played a key role in the revamping of its truck lineup, which has helped fuel GM sales and profits over the last few years. He also had a hand in the long-running "Like a Rock" advertising campaign, the Chevrolet truck theme song performed by Bob Seger.
GM said it could name a replacement for Ritter as early as this week.
Roger Adams, until two months ago the general marketing manager of the Buick division, was named interim general manager of Buick, GM said. Lynn Myers will remain general marketing manager.
Ritter will report to Saatchi & Saatchi Chief Executive Kevin Roberts, and help Toyota and its dealers grow in North America, the advertising firm said in a statement.