Buick, Pontiac Chief Leaves GM

DETROIT April 28, 2003; The AP reported that Kurt Ritter, a 32-year General Motors Corp. veteran who was named in February to oversee the Buick and Pontiac-GMC divisions, has left the company, GM said Monday.

GM officials confirmed the departure but had no other details. Automotive News reported Monday that Ritter will head the Saatchi & Saatchi advertising agency's Los Angeles office.

Neither Ritter nor Saatchi & Saatchi representatives were immediately available.

Ritter, the former marketing general manager at GM's Chevrolet division, was appointed two months ago to the new position of general manager for the Buick and Pontiac-GMC divisions.

His task was to ensure that planning and network development were aligned across the Buick, Pontiac and GMC brands.

A GM spokesman said Roger Adams, general manager of GM's customer network, will handle Buick responsibilities until a replacement is found. Lynn Meyers will keep her position as general manager for Pontiac-GMC.