General Motors vice chairman Bob Lutz has shaken up the carmaker’s European manufacturing leadership, importing a quality expert from North America, according to Automotive News (AN).

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Peter Dersley, 54, reportedly will become GM Europe vice president for quality, from July 1 – he is executive director, manufacturing quality, for GM North America.


AN said Dersley replaces Reinald Hoben, 52, who had been executive director for quality and reliability, while Hoben becomes board member in charge of manufacturing at Adam Opel AG, replacing Ditmar Porth who is retiring after 44 years at Opel.


From June 1, Alain Visser becomes Opel board member in charge of European marketing, Automotive News said, noting that Visser is executive director, sales development projects, for GM Europe having joined in January after holding a series of sales and marketing posts at Ford of Europe.


Visser reportedly replaces Alain Uyttenhoven, who is leaving the company along with Klaudia Martini, Opel board member in charge of communications. Opel communications will now be led by Frank Klaas, who continues as communications director at Opel but will not be a board member, the report added.


Automotive News noted that Lutz is serving as interim president of GM Europe until June 1 when Fritz Henderson, president of GM Asia-Pacific, is expected to begin heading GM Europe.

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