Richard Truett
Automotive News
January 10, 2008 - 12:23 pm ET
DETROIT -- Mark Reuss, the executive behind General Motors' new generation of high-performance vehicles, has been promoted to vice president of GM Asia and managing director of GM's Australian subsidiary, GM Holden Ltd.
The promotion is effective Feb. 1. Reuss will report to Nick Reilly, GM group vice president and president of GM Asia Pacific.
Reuss, 44, an engineer, has been executive director of GM's global vehicle integration, safety and virtual vehicle development since 2006.
From 2001 to 2005, he was executive director of GM's performance division, which created the successful V series for Cadillac, SS line for Chevrolet and Red Line vehicles for Saturn.
The move to Australia is a natural progression for Reuss, son of former GM President Lloyd Reuss.
GM's North American operations have been leaning on Holden for high-performance rear-drive vehicles, such as the Pontiac GTO and G8. Holden played a big role in engineering the new Chevrolet Camaro.
Reuss will succeed Chris Gubbey, Holden's current managing director. Gubbey, 51, has been promoted to GM Europe vice president and managing director.
In that job, Gubbey will run GM Russia, which includes the Commonwealth of Independent States. He will report to Carl-Peter Forster, GM group vice president and president of GM Europe.
Warren Browne, 56, who now leads GM Russia, will become executive director of GM's European business development. One of Browne's main tasks is to lead GM's growth strategy for Turkey.