Michael Richards Named Buick/Gmc General Manager

[Drew Dowdell]

DETROIT – Robert A. Lutz, GM vice chairman, marketing and communications, today named Michael D. Richards, 52, general manager of Buick GMC, effective immediately. Richards replaces Susan Docherty, who was appointed General Motors vice president, U.S. sales, in October.

“Michael is an automotive industry veteran who brings extensive experience in both marketing and sales,” Lutz said. “We are confident he will build on the positive momentum Buick GMC has with the 2010 Buick LaCrosse and GMC Terrain, as well as the upcoming Buick Regal.”

Richards brings a diverse automotive background to Buick GMC. He was most recently vice president of marketing and sales for the global automotive business at Trilogy, based in Austin, Texas. At Trilogy, he led the use of digital and internet-based solutions to assist automakers in building profitable share growth and improving customer satisfaction.

Prior to his time at Trilogy, he was a consultant to J.D. Power and Associates in Troy, Mich. In that capacity, he led the company’s efforts to develop products to improve customer satisfaction, market share and profitability for newly launched vehicles, and developed a syndicated index to measure new vehicle launch performance.

From 1981 to 2008, Richards held several sales and marketing positions at the Ford Motor Company, including general marketing manager for the Lincoln Mercury Division from 2006 to 2008. While at Lincoln Mercury, he oversaw the launch of six new products in 14 months and significantly increased the brands’ internet presence. He also was the general sales manager of the Ford Customer Service Division from 2002 to 2006, where he led all U.S. parts and service activities.

Richards also gained significant regional experience while at Ford, leading the Western Region in Los Angeles from 2000 to 2002, and the Great Lakes Region from 1998 to 1999.

Richards holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Eastern Michigan University and attended the Strategic Marketing Education Program at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business.

"We are pleased to have Mike as a member of the GM family,” Lutz said. “His vast sales and marketing experience will be invaluable in his new role, as he leads the team building the Buick and GMC brands."

[SAmadei]

This should be interesting. Well, Elaine is working with Healthy Choice.

Yeah, yeah, I know, not the same Michael Richards.

[Croc]

I like his resume. I like the JDP history. This is good news.

[regfootball]

i'd be more than happy to console Susan over a few martinis.......