Cadillac General Manager becomes Hummer CEO

[DBeaSSt]

http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/081015/gm_hummer.html?.v=1

AP

GM names CEO for its Hummer brand slated for sale

Wednesday October 15, 9:14 pm ET

GM names long-time employee to head Hummer as it prepares to sell iconic truck brand

DETROIT (AP) -- General Motors Corp. said on Wednesday it named a long-time employee to the newly created position of chief executive at its Hummer division, as it undertakes what it called a "strategic review" of the iconic truck brand.

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GM last month named the Hummer brand and its Strasbourg, France, manufacturing operation as assets that are up for sale, as it an other automakers face liquidity problems and mounting losses from declining U.S. sales.

The company said James E. Taylor will take over as CEO at Hummer, effective immediately. Taylor, who joined GM in 1980, had been the general manager for the Cadillac brand since 2004.

Hummer's general manager, Martin Walsh, will work with Taylor on the transition and ongoing dealer relations, and then will move to another assignment, GM said.

GM announced a plan in July to cut $10 billion in costs and raise another $5 billion through asset sales and borrowing through the end of next year.

On Monday it said it would shutter its metal parts stamping factory near Grand Rapids by the end of next year, costing 1,520 jobs. It also sped up the end of SUV production at its Janesville, Wis., plant to Dec. 23, eliminating another 1,200 positions.

Although the company hasn't commented on further cuts, analysts say the sagging U.S. auto market will force GM to close more plants. U.S. sales overall are down 13 percent this year, with predictions that automakers will sell 2 million fewer vehicles than they did last year.

Interesting move, naming a CEO for Hummer.

[smk4565]

Getting Hummer one more step to being gone is a good thing. I don't think Jim Taylor had done such a hot job with Cadillac over the past few years, so I am glad they are getting someone else. The renaissance that LaNeve started stalled badly when Taylor came in.

[regfootball]

death sentence for Jim! and lots of trips to India and Africa.

[97regalGS]

Getting Hummer one more step to being gone is a good thing. I don't think Jim Taylor had done such a hot job with Cadillac over the past few years, so I am glad they are getting someone else. The renaissance that LaNeve started stalled badly when Taylor came in.

i think history will show that LaNeve inherited a 'renaissance' in progress.

[FUTURE_OF_GM]

So, what's the point?

Could Hummer now be spun off as an independent company if things get too tough?

I wonder who Taylor pissed off.

[The O.C.]

Could be something that says whoever buys Hummer has to keep him as CEO for a specified amount of time......????

[thegriffon]

Could it be that the potential buyer(s specifically asked for Taylor?