Beijing – Larry Zahner, President of the General Motors China Group since October 1998, today was named General Manager of Manufacturing for the Asia Pacific Region, GM Group Vice President and President GM Asia Pacific Rudy Schlais announced. 

Phil Murtaugh, Executive Vice President of Shanghai General Motors, a 50-50 joint venture with Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp (Group), was named Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of GM China Group, succeeding Zahner. 

"These are two top-notch executives and I am pleased to reward their efforts with significant new challenges in the region," Schlais said. "These two men bear significant responsibility for the respect and credibility that GM operations have gained in Greater China." 

Zahner, 45, immediately becomes responsible for all manufacturing plants in the region, including cooperation with GM alliance partners, such as Suzuki, Fuji Heavy Industries (Subaru) and Isuzu. Zahner also will be responsible for defining operational strategies for Daewoo Motor Co. and plans to implement them assuming GM’s bid for Daewoo is successful. He will lead a team on the ground in Korea and support Alan Perriton, Executive-in-Charge of Strategic Alliances and Partnerships. 

"Our interest in acquiring Daewoo is well known," Schlais said. "This further proves that we are ready to help Daewoo be a successful international competitor by having our plans ready to go when the decision is made." 

Zahner, who has held numerous manufacturing positions in his 27-year GM career, was manufacturing manager at GM’s complex in Ramos Arizpe, Mexico, before coming to China as head of Opel operations in 1997. 

Murtaugh, 45, was instrumental in forging the agreement that led to the creation of Shanghai GM in 1997. As a member of the four-person Executive Committee that sets policy for the joint venture, he has overseen a string of records for speed in creating a world-class quality manufacturing facility. The plant’s lean and flexible operations are among the most advanced in the GM system.Murtaugh will become a member of the GM Asia Pacific Strategy Board led by Schlais, and Zahner will remain a member. 

A successor for Murtaugh at SGM will be named at a later date. 

(June 9, 2000)