GM to Name Brent Dewar Head of Chevrolet

General Motors Co.’s executive ranks continue to turn over with the appointment of the auto maker’s European sales chief Brent Dewar to head its Chevrolet division.

GM also confirms today Bryan Nesbitt, executive vice president global design, will move to general manager of Cadillac.

Earlier this week, the auto maker said longtime research-and-development leader Larry Burns would step down in October, replaced by Alan Taub, who currently is executive director of R&D.

Dewar’s return stateside, confirmed by a person familiar with the plan, also marks a return for the executive to the Chevy brand, which he took over in 2003 after managing GM’s Northeast region for three years.

Dewar previously led GM’s sales, service and parts unit in North America and has held management positions in Brazil and Canada during his 31-year career at the auto maker.

In his current role, Dewar leads GM’s European brands in sales, marketing, brand integration and aftersales, as well as the future direction of its distribution network in the region.

He also oversees GM Europe’s national sales companies and serves as a member of the GM European Strategy Board and a member of the Saab Automobile Board.

A native of Vancouver, Canada, Dewar earned a bachelor’s degree in 1978 from the University of British Columbia, with a major in transportation. In 1986, he earned a master’s degree in business administration from York University.

Dewar became a U.S. citizen in 2004.

Ed Peper, who currently leads Chevrolet, will take over sales at Cadillac. An official announcement about the change in Chevy leadership is expected later today.