John F. Smith to Replace Lovejoy as Head of GM North America VSSM

October 21, 2002

DETROIT- Bill Lovejoy, a veteran General Motors executive and a driving force behind GM's strengthened relationship with its dealers, will retire Jan. 1 as group vice president of GM Vehicle Sales, Service and Marketing.

Lovejoy's retirement will cap a distinguished 40-year career with the world's largest automaker.

"Bill has had a great career at GM in a number of important assignments, all of which he handled wonderfully. Most recently, his personal commitment to growing GM sales and market share, and strengthening the relationship between GM and our dealers has been exemplary," President and CEO Rick Wagoner said Monday in announcing the change. "He has served GM well with a terrific mixture of wisdom, honesty and common sense. We will all miss his counsel, enthusiasm and good humor."

Lovejoy, 62, will be succeeded by John F. Smith, 51, who has been vice president of GM Field Sales, Service and Parts since February. His previous appointments included vice president and general manager of GM Service and Parts Operations, vice president and general manager of Cadillac, president of Allison Transmission, and GM Europe vice president of planning. In his new position, Smith will report to Gary Cowger, president of GM North America.

"John has had a track record of success in every position he has held within GM," Wagoner said. "One important example of this is the resurgence of Cadillac, which is in large part due to the hard work, vision and leadership John displayed when leading that division in the late 1990s."

Pete Gerosa, regional general manager of VSSM's North Central region since 2000, will succeed Smith. Eileen Healy, regional sales manager in the South East region since 2000, will succeed Gerosa.

Cowger said Lovejoy's contribution to a stronger GM sales organization will live on through Smith and the rest of the team that Lovejoy helped create.

"Bill has built an incredibly strong and experienced leadership team in VSSM, led by John Smith, John Middlebrook, Darwin Clark, Pete Gerosa and Doug Herberger," Cowger said. "They can be counted on to continue to build strong dealer relations and grow the quantity and quality of GM's market share."

Lovejoy was named in January 2000 to head GM Vehicle Sales, Service and Marketing, where he has overseen an increase in GM's U.S. market share in one of the most competitively challenging markets the industry has ever seen. Under his leadership, GM's truck sales have led the industry and set records, while GM's scores in National Automobile Dealers Association dealer-satisfaction surveys have improved dramatically.

Glen Ritchey, president of GM's National Dealer Council and owner of Jon Hall Chevrolet in Daytona Beach, Fla., said Lovejoy was committed from the start to improving relations with GM dealers.

"He made good on that commitment by communicating and listening to us. He rebuilt our trust by focusing on issues that are important to dealers and by making us know we're an important part of the GM family."

Lovejoy began his career at General Motors Acceptance Corp. in 1962. He was named president of GMAC in March 1990, became general manager of SPO in 1992, and was elected a GM vice president in 1994.

Earlier this year, the Sales and Marketing Executives of Detroit named Lovejoy "Marketing Statesmen of the Year" for his role in the successful "Keep America Rolling" incentive campaign of late 2001. In 1996, 1998 and 2002, Lovejoy was honored as an Automotive News executive "All Star."

"I am extremely proud to have been associated with such a fine group of GM employees and dealers," Lovejoy said. "Throughout my career, I have been fortunate to work with countless dealers and GM employees from all over the country. I am convinced that we have the best employees and dealers, who professionally serve our customers to the highest standard of any company in the world."

A native of Kansas City, Mo., Smith joined GM in 1968 at the Chevrolet Kansas City assembly plant. He was an engineering student at General Motors Institute (now Kettering University), where he graduated in 1973. Smith later earned an MBA from Harvard Business School in 1976.

Gerosa, 60, began his GM career in 1964 with Oldsmobile and held several sales management positions at Olds and Cadillac before he was named regional general manager of the Northeast region. He holds a bachelor's degree in marketing and advertising from the University of Connecticut and attended the Executive Development Programs at Illinois University and Harvard University.

Healy, 54, began her GM career in 1976 with Chevrolet. She was appointed assistant general sales and service manager in 1998 before she was named to her current position. Healy holds a bachelor's degree in government and history from Mercyhurst College, a master's degree in political science from Syracuse University, and a master's degree in administration from Central Michigan University. Healy also attended the Executive Development Program at Northwestern University.

General Motors , the world's largest vehicle manufacturer, designs, builds and markets cars and trucks worldwide, and has been the global automotive sales leader since 1931. More information on GM can be found at www.gm.com.