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Holden promotes executives with Opel know-how
Ron Hammerton
9 October 2014
www.goauto.com.au
The ‘Opelisation’ of GM Holden has spread to the company’s board with the elevation to executive director status of two senior staffers with extensive knowledge of General Motors’ European brand.
The promotion of marketing director Bill Mott and sales director Peter Keley to the inner sanctum, reporting directly to Holden chairman and managing director Gerry Dorizas, follows the transfer of sales and marketing executive director Philip Brook to a new GM position in the United States.
Mr Mott was managing director of Opel Australia in its short tenure as a stand-alone car brand between September 2012 and August 2013, before Opel pulled the pin on the experiment.
Mr Keley, in a former position as Holden planning executive director, laid much of the groundwork for the Opel roll out in Australia, travelling to Opel headquarters in Russelsheim, Germany, to establish the Australian import division under the Holden umbrella.
Although their boss, Greek-born Mr Dorizas, has not worked directly with Opel, he worked extensively with European rivals Fiat and Volkswagen before joining Holden, and even did a stint with as vice-president of Hyundai’s European arm, based in the same German city as Opel.
This means that the three men who are set to steer Holden in its new direction as an importer of European-inspired cars have a handle on the European motor company scene – essential in the new thrust by Holden away from Chevrolet-based cars towards the more premium Opel variety.
Up to a third of new Holden models will have Opel origins, mirroring Ford’s stance with cars such as the Fiesta, Focus and Mondeo.
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Ron Hammerton
9 October 2014
www.goauto.com.au
The ‘Opelisation’ of GM Holden has spread to the company’s board with the elevation to executive director status of two senior staffers with extensive knowledge of General Motors’ European brand.
The promotion of marketing director Bill Mott and sales director Peter Keley to the inner sanctum, reporting directly to Holden chairman and managing director Gerry Dorizas, follows the transfer of sales and marketing executive director Philip Brook to a new GM position in the United States.
Mr Mott was managing director of Opel Australia in its short tenure as a stand-alone car brand between September 2012 and August 2013, before Opel pulled the pin on the experiment.
Mr Keley, in a former position as Holden planning executive director, laid much of the groundwork for the Opel roll out in Australia, travelling to Opel headquarters in Russelsheim, Germany, to establish the Australian import division under the Holden umbrella.
Although their boss, Greek-born Mr Dorizas, has not worked directly with Opel, he worked extensively with European rivals Fiat and Volkswagen before joining Holden, and even did a stint with as vice-president of Hyundai’s European arm, based in the same German city as Opel.
This means that the three men who are set to steer Holden in its new direction as an importer of European-inspired cars have a handle on the European motor company scene – essential in the new thrust by Holden away from Chevrolet-based cars towards the more premium Opel variety.
Up to a third of new Holden models will have Opel origins, mirroring Ford’s stance with cars such as the Fiesta, Focus and Mondeo.
Continue here
I'm also no longer driving a Holden and feel conflicted. If only Holden had a commercial van I'd be driving that instead of the rock solid iLoad albeit not the best looker from front on
