Mark LaNeve leaving GM

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The Detroit News reports General Motors’ top U.S. sales exec is leaving the company to pursue “another opportunity.” Mark LaNeve, GM’s vice president for U.S. sales will leave the company 10/15, President and CEO Fritz Henderson said in an e-mail obtained by The News. LaNeve is leaving for a job outside the automotive industry.


“Mark has contributed significantly to GM in several key positions, including transforming the Cadillac brand and leading the vehicle sales, service and marketing organization during one of the most challenging periods in GM’s history,” Henderson wrote. “Please join me in thanking Mark for his dedication and wishing him and his family well. A replacement for Mark will be named at a later date.”

Henderson said GM was “open to bringing in outside talent” but that the company needed to get approval from the Treasury Department for its pay procedures. Before the company can bring in new people, the company needs to be able to explain how it will pay them.

He also addressed reports that CFO Ray Young will be leaving GM but refused to say whether a change was pending.

LaNeve’s departure ends a 28-year auto industry career that started with stints in sales and marketing at Cadillac. He is a former brand manager for the Pontiac Bonneville. In 1997, LaNeve was named vice president of marketing at Volvo Cars of North America, where he later served as president and CEO before returning to GM as general manager of Cadillac. In September 2004, he was named North American vice president, marketing and advertising. The next year, he was promoted to vice president of North America vehicle sales, service and marketing.