Fritz picks Susan Docherty to replace LaNeve
Just last week we were chatting with Buick GMC General Manager Susan Docherty on the GM Fastlane Blog about our lack of confidence in the 2010 GMC Terrain, and now she's moved up to GM's Vice President of US sales. Docherty will replace the soon to be departed Mark LeNeve as sales VP and one of the General's executive team members on October 16. Docherty enters her new role with a wealth of experience including stints as general manager of Hummer and GM's western region. CEO Fritz Henderson used the press release (after the jump) to welcome Docherty to the exclusive executive club, adding "Susan will continue our progress and reinforce our focus to put the Chevy, Buick, GMC and Cadillac customers first."
While we're sure Docherty is pretty damn pleased with her latest advancement, we're thinking she's got her work cut out for her. GM's US sales have been in a downward spiral for what seems like an eternity, and Docherty will either end her time as sales VP as the hero who helped reverse the decades-old trend or yet another executive who presided over the perpetual fall.
[Source: GM | Image Source: Chris McGrath/Getty]
PRESS RELEASE
General Motors Names Docherty Vice President U.S. Sales
DETROIT - Fritz Henderson, GM president and CEO, today named Susan Docherty, 46, currently general manager, Buick-GMC, to the position of vice president, U.S. Sales, effective October 16, 2009. She will also become a member of the executive committee. Docherty replaces Mark LaNeve, who announced his departure to a non-automotive company earlier today.
"Susan will bring a wealth of experience from previous marketing and sales assignments," Henderson said. "I have confidence that she will bring a new perspective to the position as she guides a new, lean, and customer-focused dealer network."
Previously, Docherty had been named to lead the Buick-Pontiac-GMC Channel in June 2008. Before this assignment she had been general manager for the Western Region, taking the position in September 2006.
Following her Sloan Fellowship at Stanford, she was named general manager of the Hummer Division in September of 2004. Earlier assignments included: marketing director and brand manager for the Cadillac Escalade; sales and service executive positions for GM Europe; and managerial positions with GM of Canada.
"I'd like to congratulate Susan in her new assignment and once again thank Mark for guiding our sales and dealer organizations through one of the most difficult periods in the industry's history." Henderson said. "Susan will continue our progress and reinforce our focus to put the Chevy, Buick, GMC and Cadillac customers first."
GM will look outside to fill the Buick-GMC general manager position. "This will infuse new ideas and an outside perspective into our marketing efforts," Henderson said.
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About General Motors: General Motors, one of the world's largest automakers, traces its roots back to 1908. With its global headquarters in Detroit, GM employs 219,000 people in every major region of the world and does business in some 140 countries. GM and its strategic partners produce cars and trucks in 34 countries, and sell and service these vehicles through the following brands: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, GM Daewoo, Holden, Opel, Vauxhall and Wuling. GM's largest national market is the United States, followed by China, Brazil, the United Kingdom, Canada, Russia and Germany. GM's OnStar subsidiary is the industry leader in vehicle safety, security and information services. General Motors acquired operations from General Motors Corporation on July 10, 2009, and references to prior periods in this and other press materials refer to operations of the old General Motors Corporation. More information on the new General Motors can be found at www.gm.com.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Chris 8:59AM (10/08/2009)
Jesus Christ. What the hell is she wearing?
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Jake 9:08AM (10/08/2009)
That's actually Matt in drag.
Venom 10:16AM (10/08/2009)
OMG I nearly spit out my soup laughing.
lol
monkeykat2 10:23AM (10/08/2009)
Holy Bows!
Raghu 10:56AM (10/08/2009)
Cup cakes! Cup cakes!
cpwallen 12:26PM (10/08/2009)
The swearing isn't necessary to make your point.
Tool 12:29PM (10/08/2009)
Jesus Christ what was Fritz thinking?
Can't they find a good change agent outside of GM that could shake up the sales organization? They haven't injected any new blood into this organization and it is just the same old GM mindset operating here.
Mike 11:15AM (10/08/2009)
GM needs car guys. Period.
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Sea Urchin 9:08AM (10/08/2009)
I'll ride this GM product any day.
Yeahhhhhhh
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TigerMil 9:13AM (10/08/2009)
Desperate. Kind of like GM, though. I like my cougars a little more thin with plastic fantastic on top.
LOL though...let the ad hominem arguments begin.
Jerry Hightower 9:17AM (10/08/2009)
What she's wearing is very nice and very pleasing and looks very nice on her. She looks like a nice lady. Too bad she's wearing a big rock!
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dukeisduke 9:34AM (10/08/2009)
I agree, Jerry. She's much better-looking than LaNeve.
Glock23 10:16AM (10/08/2009)
"What she's wearing is very nice and very pleasing"
Yuk. It look's like she raided Hillary Clinton's wardrobe.
PILOT_GUY 6:32PM (10/08/2009)
As long as she knows the other car companies sell diesel cars, I don't care how she looks!!!!!
Diesels For Life!!!!!!
TigerMil 9:15AM (10/08/2009)
POLL: Docherty will either end her time as sales VP as the hero who helped reverse the decades-old trend or yet another executive who presided over the perpetual fall.
I'm betting on the latter. She won't last 12 months.
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gessvt 10:58AM (10/08/2009)
+1. GM execs play musical chairs until they can't take it any longer, like Mr. LaNeve.
MajorGeek 9:22AM (10/08/2009)
Too bad she has worked her way up the corporate ladder and still might have to read such insulting crap, including Autoblogs couple of subtle jabs. I'm guessing she has more experience at GM then Autoblog.
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Gary Lowe 9:23AM (10/08/2009)
Like re-arranging the deck chairs on the Titanic
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hyundaifans.com 1:28AM (10/09/2009)
Damn. That was a good one.
Jon 9:41AM (10/08/2009)
Isn't this the same person who came up with those horrid "take a look at me now" ads for Buick? The "new GM" has yet to resemble anything other than "old GM" with a few nameplates missing. Hopefully she won't come up with another stinker for the CTS Coupe.
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