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Joel Ewanick named GM head of global marketing

Filed under: Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Marketing/Advertising, GM

Less than one year after his initial hire as General Motors’ vice president of marketing, Joel Ewanick has just been named the automaker’s global chief marketing officer.

In this new role, Ewanick will “ensure consistent global messaging” for the entire suite of GM brands, including Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet and GMC here in the United States, as well as Holden, Opel and Vauxhall abroad. Furthermore, Ewanick will oversee GM’s presence at important global auto shows, as well as the automaker’s marketing and participation during major global events.

As you’ll remember, Ewanick spent three years as the vice president of marketing for Hyundai Motor America before defecting to Nissan. After only a two-month stay at Nissan, Ewanick was hired by General Motors to replace Susan Docherty, the company’s former marketing VP. Follow the jump for the official press release about Ewanick’s new position as global marketing chief.

[Source: General Motors]

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Joel Ewanick named GM head of global marketing originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 17 Dec 2010 10:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ex-Hyundai and Benz stylist Piaskowski joins Ford as head of exterior design

Filed under: Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Ford, Design/Style

Joel Piaskowski, designer According to AutoWeek, Joel Piaskowski, formerly of General Motors, Hyundai and Mercedes-Benz, is now making his way to Ford to head the exterior design team for the automaker in the Americas.

Piaskowski is perhaps best known for penning the Hyundai Genesis coupe and sedan – two vehicles that helped change the Korean automaker’s image here in the United States. He then left Hyundai at the end of 2008 to become the head of design at Mercedes-Benz’s advanced design studio in Irvine, California. Following his departure in March of this year, Piaskowski officially joins Ford Motor Company on October 1.

With recent debuts like the Fiesta as well as the upcoming Focus, Ford is proving that it’s capable of creating great design. Adding Piaskowski to the mix of clever-eyed design team should only strengthen Ford’s future portfolio, and we’re eager to see what new designs come out of the Blue Oval under the journeyman’s leadership.

[Source: AutoWeek | Image: General Motors]

Ex-Hyundai and Benz stylist Piaskowski joins Ford as head of exterior design originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Sep 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Creed to head BMW NA marketing after Pitney passing

Filed under: Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, BMW

Dan Creed, BMW BMW’s North American Vice President of Aftersales, Dan Creed, has been chosen to replace former marketing VP Jack Pitney, who passed away last month as the result of a tragic accident on his farm. Creed will pick up the reins of marketing as well as product planning and strategy for The Roundel in North America.

Creed has been with BMW since 1996, when he joined the automaker’s Canadian arm. His past assignments for the company have included Canada’s National Sales Manager and head of the Southern Region of BMWNA. In his role as the President of Aftersales, Creed presided over parts, service, accessories and lifestyle schwag for both Bimmer and Mini.

BMW’s official press release is after the jump.

[Source: BMW]

Continue reading Report: Creed to head BMW NA marketing after Pitney passing

Report: Creed to head BMW NA marketing after Pitney passing originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Sep 2010 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Jonathan Browning to head Volkswagen’s U.S. operations

Filed under: Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Volkswagen

Since the departure of Stefan Jacoby, Volkswagen has been hunting for a new helmsman for its U.S. operations. Word is that VW have found that man. Jonathan Browning, a former managing executive for General Motors and Ford, is set to take over the position Jacoby vacated when taking the CEO spot at Volvo.

Browning initially joined the Volkswagen team in June to head the national sales effort for all 10 brands under the VAG umbrella. He began his career with General Motors back in 1981, working with Vauxhall and then moving on to manage GM Turkey. Browning eventually left the General for the Blue Oval where he was involved with marketing and served as managing director for (then Ford-owned) Jaguar from 1997 through 2001. GM got him back and he climbed its ladder, rising to the position of Head of Global Sales – a post he resigned from in 2009.

While Browning’s appointment isn’t official yet, Volkswagen will be holding an event tomorrow at 11 AM EST to announce its new U.S. CEO, so expect confirmation before noon on Monday.

[Source: Wall Street Journal – Sub. Req.]

Report: Jonathan Browning to head Volkswagen’s U.S. operations originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 12 Sep 2010 17:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: SV Motors head indicted for investment fraud

Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Performance, Etc., Government/Legal, Specialty

SV Motors 9 Competizione – Click above for high-res image gallery

Exactly a year ago today, we got our first real-life glimpse of the SV Motors 9 Competizione, an American/Italian mash-up built atop the C6 Chevrolet Corvette and coated in custom carbon fiber coachwork. 365 days later and the dream has turned into a nightmare.

Joseph Viloa (aka Giuseppe Viola), a 58-year-old investment consultant based in San Francisco, CA and the man behind SV Motors, has reportedly been indicted by a federal grand jury on aggravated identity theft, mail and wire fraud. In the process, he allegedly bilked victims for around $7 million – two million of which went into the design and production of the SV 9. And this wasn’t the first time he’s run afoul of the law.

Viloa was previous convicted of fraud, serving five years in Arizona, and is currently behind bars in Maricopa County where he’s awaiting trial for another fraud case from 1990. His latest round of illegal escapades reportedly ran from 2004 to 2010, during which he may have defrauded at least 60 investors.

From what we can gather, only a handful of SV 9s were produced, so assuming the Feds get their conviction, the only time you’ll see a Competizione is at the occasional auto show and – yes – as Lafayette’s ride in True Blood re-runs. Top tippage Brian!

Gallery: SV Motor Company 9 Competizione

[Source: SFGate]

Report: SV Motors head indicted for investment fraud originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 04 Aug 2010 19:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Helio Castroneves loses his head at Edmonton

Filed under: Motorsports, Videos

Helio Castroneves tangles with security – Click above to watch video after the jump

IndyCar got a little more exciting this weekend. Turns out there was a bit of a mix-up during a restart at Edmonton with just a handful of laps to go that caused Helio Castroneves to incur a penalty from the powers that be. Officials were of the mind that the Brazilian driver intentionally blocked Penske teammate Will Power and ordered Castroneves to pull through the pits as punishment. By this time, Castroneves has secured first place and was within spitting distance of nabbing the checkered flag. But the driver didn’t feel like cooling his heels on pit road, opting instead to finish out the race.

Officials stripped Castroneves of his checkers and handed the win to Scott Dixon instead, which had the effect of setting the penalized racer off like a powder keg. After a lengthy tirade, Castroneves marched himself over to the winner’s circle with the intent of tying Dixon and anyone else who got in his way into a bow. Security intervened, but not before the Brazilian took to shaking a guard by his shirt collar. How’s that for racing? Hit the jump for the video. The action starts at about four minutes in.

[Source: YouTube via Yahoo Sports]

Continue reading Video: Helio Castroneves loses his head at Edmonton

Video: Helio Castroneves loses his head at Edmonton originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 27 Jul 2010 12:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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