GM Taps Outsider to Head Vauxhall, Opel in U.K.

General Motors looks outside the organization for its new U.K. head, naming industry veteran Tim Tozer chairman and managing director of Vauxhall Motors as well as CEO of Opel Ireland.

Tozer takes over Feb. 24 following the departure of Duncan Aldred, who becomes vice president-Buick-GMC Sales, Service and Marketing in the U.S.

British national Tozer joins Vauxhall with a track record in senior management positions within the auto industry across Europe and will be responsible for all aspects of the Vauxhall organization in the U.K.

Most recently, Tozer was CEO of Autobinck Holding in The Hague, the Netherlands. He previously was president and CEO of Mitsubishi Motors Europe, managing director of Mazda U.K. and a regional director of Inchcape Motors International.

In his role as chairman of Vauxhall, he will report to Karl-Thomas Neumann, executive vice president-Opel/Vauxhall and president of General Motors Europe. Tozer reports to Peter Kuespert, vice-president sales and aftersales, regarding his sales function.

Tozer also will represent Vauxhall on the Opel/Vauxhall Leadership Board in Germany.