GM restructures marketing for 3 marques

General Motors is restructuring its European marketing operations for three of its marques. The move will see new chief marketing officers introduced at Opel, Chevrolet and Saab.

Alan Visser, who was GM Europe’s chief marketing officer is to take charge of marketing, sales and aftersales at Opel. He will be a vice-president of the marque.

Saab’s managing director, Jan-Ake Jonsson, will add marketing into his remit and Wayne Brannon, Chevrolet’s European executive director will become vice president of sales and narketing for the marque.

The appointments will take effect from March 1. GM Europe’s head of sales, Brent Dewar, marketing and aftersales, says: “This year will be tougher than 2008. We want to speed up decision making and focus our resources.”

Other brands including Vauxhall and Hummer are not affected by the changes. The changes come after General Motors admitted it was considering selling one of the three marques to free up cash, as part of their bid to receive a US government bailout loan.

General Motors is aiming to boost customer interest in its Vauxhall cars with an interest-free cashback offer on its new car ranges. The company will advertise the deal on TV and in press advertising, enticing buyers under the banner “You Pay, We Pay” from next week.