GM Marketing Chief Mike Jackson to Leave Automaker

DETROIT May 17, 2007; Jean Halliday writing for AdAge.com reported that General Motors Corp.'s VP-marketing and advertising for North America, Michael Jackson, is leaving the automaker to pursue other opportunities. The departure is effective June 15 and the position he has held since March 2006 won't be filled, a spokeswoman said.

Halliday went on to say that the duties of Mr. Jackson, who oversaw more than $2.3 billion in marketing spending, will be assumed by his boss, Mark LaNeve, VP-sales, service and marketing, North America.

Mr. Jackson's family still lives in California and he had been commuting to Detroit since becoming marketing chief, the spokeswoman said.

The article continues and stated that Mr. Jackson initiated dramatic changes during his short tenure as marketing czar, dropping longtime Cadillac agency Leo Burnett, Troy, Mich., and Saturn's agency, Goodby, Silverstein & Partners, San Francisco, without reviews.

The article postulates that there have been reports Mr. Jackson didn't see eye to eye with his boss. But the spokeswoman said Mr. LaNeve and his marketing lieutenant "had a lot of respect for each other."

Michael Jackson, GM Profile
GM North America Vice President
Marketing and Advertising

Mike Jackson became GM North America vice president of marketing and advertising on March 1, 2006. He is responsible for directing the marketing, advertising, and media efforts for the eight GM vehicle divisions. Prior to his promotion, Jackson was the regional general manager of GM's Western Region, where he led the sales, marketing, and distribution efforts for the region's 16 member states since February 2002.

Jackson joined GM in February 2000 as executive director of sales and marketing support based at GM's global headquarters in Detroit. In this capacity, he developed and led the team focused on integrating the company's sales and promotional efforts. He received the distinguished Chairman's Honors in 2002 for being a leader in the "Keep America Rolling" program.

Prior to joining GM, Jackson held key leadership positions, spanning more than 20 years, in a variety of sales and marketing assignments at Coca-Cola, Pepsi-Co, and Coors Brewing Company.

At Coors, Jackson served as vice president of market development for the extensive U.S. retail distribution operations. He led the company's implementation of national growth strategies and increased the focus on underdeveloped brands. Prior to that, he was vice president of the Southwest field business area headquartered in Southern California, with responsibility for coordinating and directing the company's wholesale and retail operations in key Western states.

While at Pepsi-Co, Jackson served as regional sales manager, quickly rising to market unit general manager for the company-owned bottling operation serving Los Angeles and Orange Counties.

Jackson joined Coca-Cola while in graduate school and, for nine years, served in a variety of sales and marketing positions. As national account executive, Jackson managed two of the top ten U.S. beverage accounts, Jack-in-the-Box and ARCO, and was responsible for securing the business from Pepsi. He also managed the account executive team in Dallas for the Southwestern U.S.-based operations.

In 1978, he received a bachelor of arts degree in journalism from Kent State University in Ohio and a master's degree in communications from the Annenberg School at the University of Southern California (USC) in 1981. He also completed the University of Pennsylvania, Wharton Executive Development Program in 1993 and the GM Senior Executive Program in 2002.

Jackson served on the board of directors of the Los Angeles Urban League for six years and is currently the chairperson of Leadership Education and Development (LEAD), (www.leadnational.org), a non-profit organization established in 1980, which is focused on providing opportunities for minority high school students interested in pursuing careers in business at major universities.

Born July 18, 1956, Jackson is a native of Youngstown, Ohio, and a graduate of Ursuline High School.