[ozstrat]

Just when the Australian government is about to sit down with Holden to discuss their future, GM pulls out the managing director without announcing a replacement.

Government 'disappointed' with Holden boss' exit

 

[chevypwr]

That sucks for him, I wonder what this means for the future of Holden.

 

[ozstrat]

It does seem odd that with the government ready to negotiate assistance with Holden, GM pulls out the one person with the required knowledge to negotiate Holden's case.

 

[Commodoreman2000]

I will be very interested to see who replaces Mike. On the upside, with Mike Deveraux and Mark Reuss now essentially higher up the pecking order they may have more swayu for a positive outcome.
Gotta love the way Joshua Dowling titles an article as Holdens Managing director quits, when the article basically goes on to say he has been promoted to a higher Role.

 

[ozstrat]

It does seem that GM likes to round out their favored executives with a stint at Holden.
I doubt we would be discussing the SS without Mark Reuss's input to approve its build. He seemed quite smitten with Holden when he was here, but then he is a confirmed rev head.
I think Devereux has done a great job too and will be another asset for Holden within the GM hierarchy.

 

[Commodoreman2000]

With or without Mike at the Helm of Holden, I think what ever happens with regard to negotiations for Co-contribution it will be down to whether or not the Abbott government will want to be seen as the Government who killed Holden or to a greater extent Manufacturing.

 

[2074]

It does seem that GM likes to round out their favored executives with a stint at Holden.

Since its still basically an autonomous entity in and amongst itself, running Holden is the same as running a micro version of General Motors Company.

Perfect real world big picture hands on experience.

 

[Commodoreman2000]

Holden is a good place to send up and comers to cut their teeth in a small yet very highly competitive market as was pointed out to me by someone on another forum.

Where else in the world can you send a guy to have to deal with 60 plus brands selling in a market vying for just over 1 million plus sales per year.

I have lost count of how many brands market cars in just the small car segment but I believe there are over 40 small (think Cruze size segment) cars and that doesn't take into account all brands individual variants of each model.

 

[ozstrat]

I don't really understand why so many manufacturers want to compete in such a small market. I'm surprised Opel has been the only one to exit to date. Maybe it has something to do with Aussie tastes as we are more likely to purchase sporty variations than anywhere else in the world? Or maybe we have a better ability to pay in a recessed world?
As you say, the perfect training ground to blood favored executives.