GM names marketing expert Docherty as new Chevrolet Europe boss
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General Motors Co. has appointed Susan Docherty as head of its Chevrolet Europe division, effective Jan. 1.
Docherty will succeed Wayne Brannon, who is retiring after 38 years with GM.
Docherty, 49, will oversee the growth of Chevrolet and Cadillac in western and central Europe, GM said on Thursday.
Currently head of GM's international sales and marketing operations, Docherty has held various sales and marketing roles with GM, including head of U.S. marketing, general manager of Hummer and marketing director for Cadillac.
A native of Canada, she has also had marketing roles at GM's offices in Zurich, Switzerland, and Ruesselsheim, Germany.
GM said it will announce a successor for Docherty's current role at a later date.
Detroit-born Brannon, 56, began his career with GM at Cadillac in 1973. Under his five-year leadership, Chevrolet doubled its Europe sales volume, selling 380,000 vehicles in its European markets in the first three quarters.
Chevrolet Europe's sales accounted for 11.3 percent of global Chevrolet sales in 2010.
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Docherty, left, succeeds Brannon, right. |
Chevrolet is the top-selling foreign brand in Russia and is popular in eastern Europe, but is a small player in mature European markets, where it mostly sells affordable Korean-built small cars.
Chevrolet sales in the EU, where the brand has a 1.3 percent market share, fell 1.2 percent to just under 144,000 units in the first 10 months, according to industry association ACEA.
The brand has launched new products aimed at Europe this year, including a hatchback version of the Cruze.
"With seven exciting new cars and SUVs arriving at Chevy dealerships in Europe in the past few months, this is a great time for us to take on the competition and continue to grow our business in Europe," Docherty said in a statement.
You can reach Paul McVeigh at pmcveigh@crain.com.
