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.February 11, 2004
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This Week:

• Mazda Ibuki Concept Vehicle Makes North American Debut at Chicago Auto Show

• The Range Stormer: Land Rover Concept Vehicle Makes First Chicago Appearance

• Geared for Safety, the All-New 2005 Chrysler 300 and Dodge Magnum Offer State-of-the-Industry Performance and Crash Protection

• MINI Introduces Commemorative Edition MINI COOPER S MC40

• Jaguar North America And Rocketsports Racing Unveil The Ultimate XKR At The 2004 Chicago Auto Show

• GM Names New Regional Presidents for Europe, Asia Pacific

• Volkswagen Polo GT - the new sporty, dynamic special model

• The New Mazda3 Sedan

• Subaru Introduces Third-Generation Outback(R) Models

• BMW Group: Positive Outlook For The Year

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GM Names New Regional Presidents for Europe, Asia Pacific
 

Burns Resigns to Join Dana Corp., Lutz to Serve as Interim President of GM Europe - Henderson, Clarke, Briggs Take on New Assignments DETROIT - Fritz Henderson will become president of GM Europe on June 1, replacing Mike Burns, who has resigned to become CEO, president and a director of Dana Corp., effective March 1, GM Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner announced today. Troy Clarke becomes executive vice president, GM Asia Pacific, effective immediately, to ensure a smooth transition with Henderson in advance of his appointment as president of GM Asia Pacific in Singapore on June 1. Both Henderson and Clarke retain their titles of GM group vice president.

GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz will assume the additional responsibility of president of GM Europe on an interim basis until Henderson moves into his new assignment in Zurich, Switzerland, in June. Lutz retains his positions as GM vice chairman of product development and chairman of GM North America.

Guy Briggs, vice president of manufacturing, succeeds Clarke as GM group vice president of North America manufacturing and labor relations, effective immediately.

"We are fortunate to have executives with the breadth and depth of experience that Bob, Fritz, Troy and Guy bring to these senior leadership positions," Wagoner said.

Burns, 51, has been president of GM Europe since September 1998, responsible for all European operations, including the coordination of GM's activities with Fiat.

"Mike has led a major restructuring of our European operations, which has made significant progress under very difficult circumstances," Wagoner said. "He deserves a lot of the credit for making our joint ventures with Fiat a success, and for beginning the effort to make GM a true multi-brand franchise across Europe. He has accomplished much in his 33 years at GM, and we wish him well at Dana."

Henderson, 45, has been president of GM Asia Pacific since January 2002, after serving as president of GM Latin America, Africa and Middle East. He previously was a GM vice president and president and managing director of GM do Brasil, and a former general manager of Delphi Saginaw Steering Systems.

Henderson joined GM in 1984 as a senior analyst in the treasurer's office in New York. After holding a variety of financial assignments, he was transferred to GMAC, where he held several positions of increasing responsibility.

"Fritz is a well-rounded executive with two decades of broad, global experience," Wagoner said. "He is particularly well-qualified to lead the GM Europe team in completing their turnaround.

"I also very much appreciate Bob Lutz's willingness to go to GM Europe and lead this great organization on an interim basis. Bob has many years of outstanding experience in the European auto industry, and he'll work with the GM Europe team to accelerate their progress."

Clarke, 48, has headed North America manufacturing and labor relations since June 2002, and previously was GM vice president of labor relations, and president and managing director of GM de Mexico. He joined GM in 1973 at the Pontiac division, where he held a series of engineering and manufacturing assignments.

"Continuing our recent outstanding success in Asia Pacific is critical to GM's future, and I'm confident Troy will build on the momentum GM has seen in that region over the past several years," Wagoner said. With his appointment, Clarke will join GM's Automotive Strategy Board.

Briggs, 65, has been vice president of manufacturing since January 2001. He had planned to retire at the end of last year, but agreed to stay on to continue working on several manufacturing issues. In his new position, Briggs becomes a member of the North America Strategy Board.

Briggs is a 42-year GM veteran with a long resume of manufacturing leadership positions, including vice president and general manager of operations at the former GM Truck Group, and head of manufacturing for Saturn Corp. He joined GM at the former Flint Chevrolet assembly plant in 1961.

(February 4, 2004)