President and managing director of Chevrolet and Cadillac Europe, Susan Docherty, has announced plans to leave General Motors to spend time with her family. Her departure will be effective September 30th, and GM said that it will name a successor at a later date.
“With more than 27 years of GM service, Susan has been instrumental in many of our sales and marketing initiatives,” said GM Vice President, Global Manufacturing, and President, International Operations Tim Lee. “She has helped build the equity of our brands and reach our customers in new and innovative ways.”
In her current position, which was announced in December of 2011, Docherty commenced the restructuring of the business of the two global brands for which she was responsible in Europe, while growing Chevrolet market share in 2012 in a challenging European market, according to General Motors. She’s also been “a guiding force in helping the company redefine the positioning of the Chevrolet brand in GM International Operations”, according to the automaker.
“After almost three decades at this great company, working at an incredible pace in markets around the world, I’ve decided to take a break, invest time in my family and chart a new course for my career,” said Docherty. “I leave with incredible memories and valued friendships with high hopes for GM’s continued success.”
Before taking her current position in Europe, Docherty held several leading positions in sales, marketing, and communications around the world. Her career at GM began when she was selected by the automaker for a Sloan Fellowship, preceding her completion of a master’s degree at Stanford University.
Ms. Docherty has served as GM vice president of International Operations Sales, Marketing and Aftersales; GM vice president of U.S. Sales, Service and Marketing, and general manager of Buick-Pontiac-GMC.
“Susan has been a tireless promoter of our company and brands,” said Lee. “We appreciate her dedication and creativity and wish her continued success.”
In the near term, Docherty will continue to work with the Chevrolet and Cadillac teams in Europe to guarantee a smooth transition.
Stay tuned to GM Authority as we learn more about this rather sudden development.
Comments
This is a big loss.
I always admired Ms. Docherty for ger commitment and contributions.
She was brutal in public speaking. Unless she was reading a teleprompter, she came across to me as someone who had no clue.
She may have been a nice person but she failed at everything she touched, good to see her go
One has to wonder, though, if that’s only true for public-facing initiatives, and if her assignments were significantly more difficult than those given to others. After all, raising Cadillac and Chevrolet sales in Europe is no small feat.
It was a very small feat in 2012 – less than 1%. In 2013 Chevrolet sales are down over 30%, Cadillac sales are too tiny to consider.
GM’s marketing department is its weakest point. Docherty is a part of that department and I’m sorry…she gets no sympathy from me. I stop short of saying “good riddance”, but she represents a part of the “old guard” at GM and is therefore tainted. So long, fare well.
Was she the sophisticated dingbat that said Europe was a “hellova a big market”? GM needs to get rid of a lot more of this dead weight to keep from going BK again.
Great article about Dizzy Docherty on TTAC, she was a phony – you can tell by watching her speak. GM needs talent like Audi & Toyota has, I hope they find it. GM will fail if management continues to promote people based on political correctness vs ability. Our German friends don’t care about PC issues so much which is why VW & BMW are kicking as_ in OUR market.
I know the natural instinct is to feel bad for someone when they get fired, but when that someone is incompetent it is a GREAT thing when they are found out. Getting rid of the wrong people is good for GM. Who’s the dope that promoted her? Do they still have their job?
http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2013/06/ditzy-docherty-done-2/#more-492988
Let’s face it, she f*cked up in Europe and jumps a sinking ship of which she doesn’t know how to fix it.
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