GM Taps Former Nissan Exec as Part of Realigned Sales Team

General Motors Corp. realigns its sales staff into four brand channels – Chevrolet; Premium (Cadillac, Hummer, Saab); Buick-Pontiac-GMC; and Saturn – in an effort to boost profitability both for the auto maker and its dealers.

The shift includes the hiring of Mark McNabb, who left Nissan North America Inc. in March. McNabb had been Nissan’s senior vice president in charge of sales and marketing for less than a year after rejoining the company. Previously, he had headed up Infiniti operations before leaving for Mercedes-Benz U.S.A. in 2005.

McNabb, named a GM North America vice president, will take the reins of the Premium channel.

“Mark McNabb is a world-class executive with extensive experience,” says Mark LaNeve, vice president-vehicle sales, service and marketing. “His background with Mercedes and Infiniti, in addition to Nissan, make him uniquely suited for this new position as the vice president of the premium brands.”

Saab, Hummer and Cadillac general managers will remain in place, but now will report to McNabb.

Ed Peper, currently Chevrolet general manager, also is named a vice president and will head the Chevrolet channel.

Susan Docherty, general manager of GM’s Western Region since March 2006, is promoted to vice president-Buick-Pontiac-GMC channel.

Jill Lajdziak continues as general manager of Saturn and will assume sales responsibility for that channel.

Jim Bunnell, who had been general manager of Buick-Pontiac-GMC, is appointed executive director-Channel Support Group. Bill Powell continues as vice president-industry and dealer affairs, and Doug Herberger remains in charge of Service Parts Operations.

McNabb, Peper, Docherty, Lajdziak, Bunnell, Powell and Herberger will report directly to LaNeve.

“These changes have been designed to improve all of our brands and achieve strongly profitable channels at both a wholesale and retail level,” GM North America President Troy Clarke says. “We are further streamlining the organization to reduce complexity, align resources to improve the consumer experience and improve bottom line business results.

“We expect that the channels will work closely with GM’s global product-development teams to ensure the products meet consumer needs,” he adds. “This is the next step in our continuing strategy to increase the effectiveness of GM North America’s operating model.”