Saturn General Manager Jill Lajdziak Retiring

[appman85]

She was a bust that was one of the main reasons Saturn failed. It starts at the top...

"retiring"-aka GM gently pushed her out the door.

[autofan]

Originally Posted by Masospaghetti

I don't know a whole lot about her but the only encounter I had with her left me with a bad impression.

I was working at the Fairfax assembly plant when Aura production was starting. I remember asking her if a manual transmission would be available. She replied, "We offer a 6-speed with paddle shifters that will give you the experience of a manual transmission."

Yeah, right. Either PR BS or she has no passion for cars and doesn't understand the difference.

I worked for her organization early in the decade (Sales, Service & Marketing) and while she was pleasant, passionate and diligent about her work, she was a total GM tool. No words rolled off her tongue that weren't from the corporate playbook or purely marketing spin. She had a hard time simply answering questions honestly and bluntly. She is the antithesis of someone like Lutz. She has gotten better recently with some of her communication regarding the whole Saturn debacle, but she may have been too entrenched in GM culture to really break from it. Frankly, Docherty doesn't seem much different in the way she answers questions.

[V8GMT360 Guy]

Originally Posted by chevyman1973

well i think the hottness of her had something to do with it! im sure she was good at what she did, but cant you be good at your job and be hot at the same time?

Seriously? Grow up, kid.


Wow.

[V8GMT360 Guy]

Originally Posted by solman98

Car company is gone, what has she been doing at work recently?

Humm, no ones here. We're not making cars. Maybe I should retire....

I think at this point GM management is being given a "Resign, Retire, or be Fired" ultimatum across the board... so this isn't a big shocker. This way she at least gets to draw pension, whereas if she were fired she'd get a severance package probably worth substantially less.

Or in other words, she's stealing more of my money

[Tre-Tre]

good riddens.

[Millefune]

Originally Posted by V8GMT360 Guy

Seriously? Grow up, kid.


Wow.

I'm pretty sure he was following the sarcasm of my post. So I think we should be asking you, "Seriously? Wow..."

[steinravnik]

Originally Posted by chevyman1973

well i think the hottness of her had something to do with it! im sure she was good at what she did, but cant you be good at your job and be hot at the same time?

For being in her late 50's/60's, she's really not that bad looking.

[Millefune]

Originally Posted by steinravnik

For being in her late 50's/60's, she's really not that bad looking.

There's no place for women that old in the workplace.

[Greg Burr]

She is attractive for an executive her age and her environment. But hotness? Please.

If that is insensitive, then I would say "hotness" statements are objectivefying.

[dindak]

I think I need to retire.

[Tomko]

Given some of the statements made in this thread, maybe we can all better understand a few of the pressures that a female executive must deal with that a male one does not.

How many male executives would have to spend time in hair, make-up and wardrobe, just to get their jobs done?

You're right. None.

[ByTheLake]

Nobody worked harder for his/her brand than Jill Lajdziak did. She campaigned tirelessly for improved and updated products. She truly had a passion for the Saturn brand.

Good luck with your future endeavors, Jill, and thanks for the hard work.


(The nature of the commentary within this thread exemplifies how GMI has slipped, unfortunately.)

[Whitesky]

Between people calling her or that Susan D whatever hot, I think I'm gonna puke.

[Elvisuperman]

Originally Posted by Whitesky

Between people calling her or that Susan D whatever hot, I think I'm gonna puke.

lol...It passes the time...gives us something to do...seeing as there is not really any big car news going on today.

[graycav56]

Originally Posted by Masospaghetti

I don't know a whole lot about her but the only encounter I had with her left me with a bad impression.

I was working at the Fairfax assembly plant when Aura production was starting. I remember asking her if a manual transmission would be available. She replied, "We offer a 6-speed with paddle shifters that will give you the experience of a manual transmission."

Yeah, right. Either PR BS or she has no passion for cars and doesn't understand the difference.

Ya know, I don't want to hijack this thread, but the last 2-3 cars we purchased had the paddle shifters. I think I used them maybe 2-3 times each, mostly on a neat twisty back road or for engine braking.

Definitely NOT a hot button for any future purchase, at least for me. They aren't manuals...and neither are these new dual clutch deals. My left foot LIKES the exercise.