GM Execs Darwin Clark and Lynn Myers To Retire New Pontiac-Buick Named

DETROIT January 13, 2004; Sharon Silke Carty writing for Dow Jones reported that General Motors Corp. confirmed a newspaper report that two general managers will retire in the spring after long careers in marketing at the automaker.

Darwin Clark, vice president and general manager of industry-dealer affairs, began his GM career when he joined Buick in 1959. He will retire June 1, the day he turns 65 years old.

Lynn Myers, 61, marketing general manager for Pontiac-GMC, will retire April 1. She joined Oldsmobile in 1973.

Bill Powell, regional general manager of GM's southeast region since 1999, will take over for Clark on May 1 as GM North America vice president, industry- dealer affairs. Powell, 56, began his GM career in 1977 at Buick.

Jim Bunnell, 48, general manager of GM's northeast region, will succeed Myers as divisional marketing general manager at Pontiac-GMC, effective Feb. 1.

As reported, sources told the Detroit News that the retirements aren't a reaction to GM's failure to meet its 2003 market-share target. The company had been hoping to post market-share gains three years in a row, but lost share in 2003 after gaining in 2001 and 2002.

Saab Cars USA said later that its vice president of sales, Ed Peper, is being promoted by GM to take over as regional general manager of the Northeast region. He replaces Bunnell, and will report to Pete Gerosa, vice president of sales for GM's North American operations.

Peper has been with Saab for just one year.

Brian Sweeney, sales manager-east of GM's north-central region, will replace Peper as vice president of sales at Saab.

Saab also reported that Dan David, 53, vice president of parts and service, will retire April 30 after 30 years with the company. He will be replaced by John Anderson, a team leader in Saab's Sweden operations.