Changes are coming to GM’s corporate ranks, likely as soon as government pay regulations are put into effect. CFO Ray Young’s departure is already a sure thing, and former car czarlet Steve Rattner has revealed that Fritz Henderson is an interim placeholder in everything but title. Oh, and Bob Lutz won’t last forever (gosh, that will be a sad day, won’t it?). Meanwhile, GM’s promote-from-within approach to culture change practically guarantees that some other denizen of the RenCen will move up at some point. Sweeping generalizations about GM management aside, is there anyone we should be particularly worried about? Autoextremist Peter DeLorenzo seems to think so. In his latest “rant” about Chevrolet’s decision to review its ad account, he skewers a particular GM executive in terms that make one almost believe he has given up his recent, lamentable role as GM’s resident cheerleader.
The other aspect of this story is that Brent Dewar, one of Fritz Henderson’s pals – they served at GM Brazil together – was brought back from GM Europe to run Chevrolet and significantly was the only divisional head to be given a VP title right off of the bat. It is said that he is the chief instigator of the Chevrolet account review, but that’s not completely true, as previously noted. It is clear, however, that Dewar – a legend in his own mind and if a contest were staged would be hands-down winner of the GM executive least likely to engender any love for his arrogant, reactionary and at times nonsensical behavior and rigid view of the world and his place in it – is the heir-apparent to Lutz’s CMO title whenever Bob is ready to hang up his spurs. And in case any of you analysts out there are paying attention, this is a very bad thing and at the very least should give one pause about GM’s marketing future, “A.L.” (After Lutz.) Needless to say, this is a developing situation that will bear watching.
Snap! But if Dewar so perfectly exemplifies what Rattner termed “the friendly arrogance” of GM’s executive culture, shouldn’t we be worried about the fact that he’s currently running the company’s only relevant brand?
Although I was one of the guys with the Lutz roast jokes, I continue to believe that he is the best thing going at that company. Lutz has, at least, been somewhere else. Lutz has experienced other cultures, and has driven something besides GM cars (specially prepped ones, at that) his entire career. We can debate his read on the market (he has pushed the kinds of cars that a 70 year old jet pilot has always found cool) but we cannot debate that he substantially ratcheted up the appeal factor on GM’s cars compared to where things were when he arrived. He has been the only thing approximating fresh blood or a new outlook in the entire company.
Lest someone misunderstand me, this is moderate praise of Lutz, and an indictment of the rest of the company. So, now we have just what GM needs at Chevrolet – another arrogant, insulated product of that famous corporate inbreeding that has produced so many other recent success stories. In a very short time, he will move on from Chevrolet to marketing for the entire company. At least Lutz knows what he is selling. This guy doesn’t seem to have a clue.
Board of Bystanders, Red Ink Rick , and Mark LaNaive…three down, one to go…Bent Over.
Mr. W. W. Brent Dewar, the man who is one W short of a website.
Does anyone else find this guy almost as difficult to look at as Levine? What is in the water over there in that tower, imported from the love canal in the Buffalo area?
dougjp: I thought it was that smarmy John Edwards at first glance.
@Buickman
So you think Mr. Dewar should be scotched?
Another vote (however reluctantly) for Lutz vs. an inbred a homegrown choice.
While it can be argued that Lutz did not do enough, or that he did the wrong things, it can’t be said that he did nothing.
There have been improvements in the appearance of GM cars and of GM interiors on his watch. The second generation CTS, unlike the first generation, is a handsome car. Care to speculate what the Camaro might have looked like without him? As someone who was severely disappointed with the Sky/Solstice I must at least admit he tried. Getting a team of camels to make cappuccino -let alone a good cappuccino – isn’t easy.
I personally think Lutz’ biggest success has been the marked improvement in GM’s interior design and execution.
Go from the Pontiac G6 to the Saturn Aura to the Chevy Malibu and you’ll see significant improvements in the interior with each iteration of the platform. Same with the CTS.
At one of the shows, Lutz said that interior design and quality was one way a mfg could really leapfrog the competition.
While exterior styling is the emotional draw, the driving experience takes place inside the car. A well executed interior can very positively enhance a consumer’s impression of a car.