Opel declines comment on report that VW exec Neumann will be new CEO

[DOCTOR]

FRANKFURT -- Opel declined to comment on a report that Volkswagen manager and former Continental CEO Karl-Thomas Neumann is set to become head of the money-losing General Motors Co. unit.

Neumann, 51, could become Opel CEO next summer after a non-compete clause runs out, the Financial Times Deutschland reported today, citing industry sources.

"Neumann at the top would be good for Opel. He has the caliber we need," the paper quoted an unidentified Opel board member as saying.

An Opel spokesman told Automotive News Europe: "As a general rule, the company does not comment on speculation about personnel."

Neumann was head of VW's China operations until June when he as replaced by VW veteran Jochem Heizmann and not given a new role in the company. He was touted as a possible successor to VW CEO Martin Winterkorn when he joined VW three years ago after he had quit Continental following a power struggle with controlling shareholder Schaeffler Group.

Read more: http://www.autonews.com/article/2012...#ixzz2B4TT4c4f

[georgewerr]

This could be good, since he came from VW he may have a beter relationship with the union

[richmond2000]

I still think GM global can do a LOT more to help Opel then that are IE helping to "internationalize" there business and leveraging the Opel Excess capacity

[emh]

He could be a good hire -- probably some insights Opel can learn from VW.

Or he could be a bad hire -- his last two departures seem to be under unfavorable circumstances.

Or he may not be hired at all -- doesn't sound like it's a done deal just yet.

[Uligar]

He could be a good hire -- probably some insights Opel can learn from VW.

Not Opel has to learn....... GM has to learn.......from VW........

[avinarf]

Not Opel has to learn....... GM has to learn.......from VW........

BANG ! on the head.