General Motor (GM) has announced the appointment of Michael (Mike) Devereux to the position of president, General Motors Middle East effective Nov. 1, 2008. Mike replaces Terry Johnsson who takes up a senior GM position in China after four hugely successful years heading GM operations in the Middle East, during which company sales more than tripled. The change was announced by Maureen Kempston Darkes, General Motors Group vice president and president of General Motors Latin America, Africa and Middle East (LAAM), as she visited the Middle East. As President of - GM, Middle East Operations, Mike will report to Maureen Kempston Darkes. He will also become a member of the LAAM Regional Strategy Board. Mike arrives in Dubai from GM's head office in Detroit, USA, where he was executive director, Digital Marketing and Customer Relationship Management (CRM), as well as serving as GM's Global Process Leader for Digital Marketing & CRM. Outgoing president, Terry Johnsson, is moving to China as in the key role of vice president Vehicle Sales, Service, and Marketing (VSSM), Shanghai GM. In his 24 years working for General Motors, Mike has held numerous sales and marketing positions, building up specific experience in the sphere of digital marketing, as well as a stint in the Middle East as parts sales district manager in the early 1990s. He joined GM full-time in 1989, as Marketing coordinator, GM Service & Parts Operations-International, having begun his GM career in 1984 in Canada as a co-op engineering student. Making the announcement while visiting the region, Maureen Kempston Darkes said: “I would like to thank Terry Johnsson for the amazing job he has done in his time here. Under Terry's leadership, GM has experienced historic growth throughout the Middle East. Sales have nearly tripled to 150,000 units, with GM even taking the lead in the important full-size SUV sector, and market share has doubled to 14 percent. More recently, he was integral in the historic arrival in the Middle East of the first hybrid cars, helping GM to maintain its leadership position in the area of advanced technology as well. “I am also pleased to announce Mike Devereux as the new president of General Motors - Middle East Operations. Mike brings a wealth of automotive experience to the Middle East. He has a great marketing background and a keen sense of focus on the customer. He also brings a unique understanding of digital marketing, which will serve us well as we reach out to a new group of customers. Mike is perfectly placed to lead the company forward as we introduce a wave of innovative product over the coming years, such as the Chevrolet Volt and Cruze, and as we continue to raise our levels of customer service and satisfaction.” Speaking about his new role, Mike Devereux said: “I am delighted to be moving to the Middle East at such an exciting time for both the region's automotive market and for General Motors. __
