Walter Wieland to Retire as Head of GM Operations in Brazil

.November 19, 2003
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Walter Wieland to Retire as Head of GM Operations in Brazil

Ray Young to Succeed Wieland as President & Managing Director of GM do Brasil

DETROIT & SAO PAULO, Brazil - Walter Wieland will conclude a long, successful career with General Motors' Latin American operations when he retires next May. Ray Young, a GM North America vice president and chief financial officer, will succeed Wieland as president and managing director of GM do Brasil on Jan. 1, GM Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner announced today.

Wieland will assist Young with the transition and continue reporting on special assignment to Maureen Kempston Darkes, GM group vice president and president of GM Latin America, Africa and Middle East. Mary Boland, executive director of finance and controller for GM North America, will replace Young Dec. 1.

"Walter has had an exemplary 35-year career with General Motors," Wagoner said. "He has worked in most of the countries of South America, and has made a tremendous contribution in each. The strength and success of GM throughout the region reflects Walter's strong influence."

Wieland, 60, has been in his current post in Sao Paulo since July 2000. He also oversees GM's operations in Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay, and serves on the GM Latin America, Africa and Middle East Strategy Board.

Before his current post, Wieland was based at GMLAAM headquarters in Miami and was executive director of GM's operations in Venezuela, Colombia, Chile and Ecuador. His prior assignments throughout Latin America include managing director of GM Venezolana (Venezuela) and GM Colmotores (Colombia). Wieland joined GM in 1968 as a member of the sales department at GM Argentina.

Young, 41, oversees the GM North America finance staff in Detroit and sits on the GMNA Strategy Board. He previously held a variety of positions at GM of Canada, the GM Treasurer's Office in New York before he was appointed treasurer of GM Europe in 1993. He also served as the first GM executive assigned to GM global partner Suzuki Motor Corp. of Japan in 1998, following two years as vice president of finance for CAMI Automotive, the GM-Suzuki manufacturing joint venture in Canada.*

"Ray is a strong choice to lead GM do Brasil in today's challenging environment," said Wagoner, who held the same post in the early 1990s. "His broad experience, engaging personal style and strong business skills will serve GM do Brasil well."

Young started his career at GM of Canada in 1986, after earning a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Western Ontario and an MBA, specializing in international business, from the University of Chicago. He grew up in southern Ontario after his parents emigrated from southern China.

"Ray has been instrumental in forming several collaborative ventures around the world,'' Kempston Darkes said. "His global outlook and strong financial background will be an asset to our operations in Brazil."

Young will report to Kempston Darkes in his new role as president and managing director of GM's third largest manufacturing subsidiary

Boland, 46, has held several financial assignments for GMNA since she joined GM in 1977. She holds a bachelor's degree in finance from Detroit College and an MBA from Central Michigan University. As a GMNA vice president and chief financial officer, she will report to Gary Cowger, a GM group vice president and president of GMNA, and John Devine, GM vice chairman and chief financial officer.

(November 13, 2003)

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