A New Era For Holden - An Interview With Outgoing Chairman, Denny Mooney

[JoeT]

New Era For GM Holden

Terry Martin & James Stanford
29 May 2007
www.goauto.com.au

Mooney outlines the future for Holden after accepting a crucial new job in Detroit.

After leading Holden during a “perfect storm” of volatile economic conditions and declining sales of its Australian-built cars, outgoing chairman Denny Mooney has signalled that it will be a number of years before the company returns to market leadership in this country.

Despite arguing that Holden was in a strong position on the domestic front, and revealing that Adelaide was in contention to build an unspecified number of new export-oriented vehicles, Mr Mooney said last week the company needed a broader model range before it could outmuscle Toyota in Australia.

“I absolutely think we can be number one,” he said. “Our challenge is to fi ll some of our holes that we have in our portfolio. They (Toyota) still outsell us on SUVs about four and-a-half to one, but I can tell you that we do have plans to fill our product portfolio, but it will be a few years before we get some of the entries in that we need to.

“The other thing is that exchange rates are really working in their favour – they’re working for all the Japanese manufacturers, they’re all up signifi cantly this year – but that won’t stay that way forever, either.”

General Motors announced last week that Mr Mooney will be returning to the United States to take up a new management role under the title of vice-president, global vehicle systems and integration. From August 1, he will oversee GM’s chief engineers around the world and have global responsibility for vehicle systems, which include body, chassis, electrical and so on.
He will be based in Detroit, Michigan, and report to group vice-president of global engineering Jim Queen.

“It really gets me back on … all of our product programs, all around the world,” Mr Mooney said.

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Holden's Denny Mooney GM's New Global Vehicle Systems & Integration Vice-President

Outgoing Holden Chairman Denny Mooney

[mikmak]

What a plum job he got! Of coure it will be a few years before we see his influence on local product, but to arrive at a Company as they release their most significant model since the HQ, is a professional blessing ( to those that don't actually investigate any further into it).

Oh and thanks Denny, I know it must be tough trying to be a business man when you are an engineer.

[Butz]

NA has plenty of SUVs Holden can use, the H3 hopefully is just the start. Actually, if there's a business case, sales in Australia might help save the midsize SUVs, like the Trailblazer and Envoy.

Hopefully moving Denny to his new position will increase the collaboration between GM NA and Holden. And by collaboration I mean bi-directional

[Stéphane Dumas]

I wonder if Denny could go a very good job as GM president/chairman one day? He seems to be a good candidate.

[MisterMe]

Originally Posted by Butz

... Actually, if there's a business case, sales in Australia might help save the midsize SUVs, like the Trailblazer and Envoy.

...

Except for the Hummer H3, you can stick a fork in the GM midsized SUV. It is done. The Trailblazer's sales have fallen off a cliff. It will be replaced by the Lambda-based Chevrolet Traverse. The Envoy is currently with the mortician. Its replacement, the Lambda-based Acadia, is already on the road.

[asim]

I agree with Mr.Mooney. GM/Holden can really go back to #1 in Australia, especially that the Australians aren't brainwashed to think that Holden cars suck and Toyota cars are gods. I just can't believe that Toyota is beating a GM company in the number of SUVs. GM is supposed to be the king of those. lol

[mikmak]

The intial increase in SUV sales in Oz was a severe spike a few years ago but that was due to a total lack of product in the genre. Unfortunately for those that have investede in it so heavily, the market saturated very quickly. Those that move away from it in the next 3 years will be in a stronger position IMO. It would be a good way to avoid the problems that GMNA is having right now. We are generally about 5 years behind US trends..excluding RWD of course