Monday 9th November 2009

Lutz And Ex-Vauxhall Boss Take Over At GM Europe

GM heavyweights Nick Reilly and Bob Lutz move in to replace Forster in management musical chairs

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Former UK Vauxhall chief Nick Reilly looks set to be moved from his post as international operations chief of General Motors in order to take temporary charge of Vauxhall/Opel.

Bob Lutz, legendary 'car man' and all-round motor industry troubleshooter, will also take charge of Opel's supervisory board until a new full-time CEO for Vauxhall/Opel can be found. The moves follow the departure last week of GM's European chief Carl-Peter Forster.

It's been a busy few days or so at GM. First, the General backed out of selling its Vauxhall/Opel European operations to Canadian parts giant Magna. Then GM announced last Friday that it was to part company with Opel CEO Forster after he slammed GM's handling of the sale of Opel to Magna and said that Opel would be better off under the control of the Canadian company.

Despite the tensions between General Motors and Forster, each praised the other's efforts.

"The Opel brand has made tremendous progress under Carl-Peter's tenure and leadership over the past several years," said GM CEO Fritz Henderson. "We thank him for his significant accomplishments and wish him only the best in the future."

Forster said: "It's been an honour to be part of the history of Opel, and I wish all the people with the organisation only the best in what I'm certain will be a great future."

GM isn't set to officially announce Forster's replacement - either temporary or permanent - until later this week, but has said that it is starting an "immediate external search for a new CEO for Opel Europe".

In the meantime Nick Reilly - who sacrificed a year's salary to help save the Ellesmere Port plant when he was in charge at Vauxhall in the 1990s - will take charge of Vauxhall/Opel. Lutz, who 'semi-retired' back in April, now adds heading the Opel supervisory board to his role as marketing boss of GM's US brands.

And Forster? According to the Sunday Times, he's headed to JLR, and is "likely to be appointed to a senior role at Tata Motors, owner of Jaguar Land Rover, and would take charge of the group's British operations".

[thewheelman]

Not so sure Bob Lutz is the right man for the job,i'm heavily involved in an American based car forum, & our overseas friends seem to view him as a laughing stock.

[Dibby]

Couldn't really care less, they will still make the most boring cars on Britains roads in the most dull range of silver (they even rival Audi's rainbow of grey) for the McDonalds eating masses to lap up as free company cars and abused to within an inch of their lives.

[andyps]

I guess for Lutz it will depend upon how long he is in place, and how committed he is to the job. Given the opportunity he may well help to ensure well engineered cars which are set up for more enthusiastic drivers than Vauxhall/Opel have traditionally delivered, but from reports I have seen so far about the new Astra they may be getting better anyway.

[anonymous-user]

Cant help but think that the Opel badge sits much better than ther Vauxhall one these days!

[Riggers]

Dibby said:

Couldn't really care less, they will still make the most boring cars on Britains roads in the most dull range of silver (they even rival Audi's rainbow of grey) for the McDonalds eating masses to lap up as free company cars and abused to within an inch of their lives.

Have you driven a Toyota Avensis or Auris recently

[ThirdShift]

Fantastic news! Exactly what GM Europe needs, a proper petrolhead running the division! This can only be good news not just for Vauxhall, but also the Industry! GO BOB!!!!!!

[mark3man]

One wonders what Mr Forster will do at Jag / Range Rover - they have quite a nice line-up, having got away from Ford's dictum of a car per price band.

[oilit]

mark3man said:

One wonders what Mr Forster will do at Jag / Range Rover - they have quite a nice line-up, having got away from Ford's dictum of a car per price band.

Based upon his ability to run vauxhall opel into the ground and corner the market in mediocrity, one has to assume he will be very successful in f***ing it up !

[windy1]

Bob Lutz is a proper car guy & enthusiast. Have you seen his collection of cars (old & new)? There are not many people high up in companies who have petrol in their veins, or even the time to share their enthusiasm with other like minded workers, but he is one of them. Best of luck to him I say.

[beck01]

Bob Lutz served his earlier years at BMW Munich, speaks fluent German and understands the EU better than any American, and to some degree, Europeans at their own game. Ther IS no one at GM better for the job.

[900T-R]

beck01 said:

Ther IS no one at GM better for the job.

I'm left to wonder whether that says something about Lutz or about GM...

[aeropilot]

beck01 said:

Bob Lutz served his earlier years at BMW Munich, speaks fluent German and understands the EU better than any American, and to some degree, Europeans at their own game. Ther IS no one at GM better for the job.

If so, you would have thought he could have steered GM the right way in it's attitude to Saab during his tenue with GM, so I wouldn't be too convinced of that.
Lutz is essentially still an aviation guy ahead of a car guy, but at least he isn't a bean counter in the normal sense.