James Taylor named CEO of Hummer

[Bruce Nunnally]

Taylor Named New Chief Executive Officer of HUMMER

DETROIT – As part of the ongoing business and strategic review of the HUMMER brand, General Motors is revising its HUMMER leadership structure. Effective immediately, James E. Taylor is appointed to the new position of chief executive officer, HUMMER.

Taylor, 52, formerly Cadillac general manager, is responsible for the future strategy and current business of HUMMER worldwide. This move marks a progression in the ongoing strategic review process and establishes the lead management structure for HUMMER going forward. Martin Walsh, currently general manager of HUMMER, will team with Taylor on the transition and ongoing dealer relations, and then will move to another assignment that will be announced soon.

Taylor has been Cadillac general manager since 2004, and even prior to that he was a key architect in Cadillac’s design and technology resurgence. As the global Vehicle Line Executive for Cadillac, Taylor led the development of a series of new models – beginning with the Cadillac CTS -- that ushered in a new and distinctive generation of dramatically designed, high performing vehicles. Taylor joined GM in 1980 and since has held a number of business and marketing leadership roles, including those at Saturn, Adam Opel, Worldwide Purchasing and GM Truck.

Taylor reports to Mark C. McNabb, North America vice president, Cadillac/Premium Channel. McNabb, 46, joined GM in 2008 to assume leadership of GM’s premium brands, Cadillac, HUMMER and Saab USA.

“By creating a new and more comprehensive leadership position for HUMMER with Jim Taylor as the top executive, we are bolstering the strategic review process and the brand,” said Mark LaNeve, GMNA vice president of Vehicle Sales, Service and Marketing. “At the same time, we’re sharpening our focus on Cadillac as GM’s flagship brand in the global luxury marketplace under Mark McNabb’s leadership.”

[Bruce Nunnally]

Mark McNabb, 47, remains GM North America vice president in charge of Cadillac and GM's premium sales channel. The three general manager positions reporting to him -- for the Cadillac, Hummer and Saab brands -- are being eliminated, spokeswoman Joanne Krell said in an interview today. In April, GM hired McNabb -- a former Nissan, Infiniti and Mercedes-Benz marketing executive -- as the channel's vice president, passing over Taylor.

(autonews.com)