GM appoints Lowell Paddock to head India operations

General Motors (GM) yesterday said that it has appointed Lowell Paddock as president and managing director of its India operations, from 1 January 2012.

Lowell Paddock will take over from Karl Slym, who has led the automaker's Indian operations since 1 October 2007. Slym has been appointed as executive vice president of SAIC-GM-Wuling Automobile, and equal joint venture between GM and Shanghai Automotive Industry.

Paddock will head the Detroit-based carmaker's operations in India, including manufacturing facilities in Halol, Gujarat, and Talegaon, Maharashtra, as well as its Indian joint venture with SAIC.

"We are pleased to have someone with Lowell's vast experience heading our rapidly expanding operations and the growth of the Chevrolet brand in one of the world's most important vehicle markets," GM International Operations president Tim Lee said. "His background provides a perfect fit with what we aim to accomplish in India."

Paddock has held several important posts in product planning and program management in the US, Europe and Asia since joining General Motors in 1992. His previous positions include Director of Portfolio Planning at GM Europe, vice president of Planning at GM Asia Pacific, and executive director of Planning and Program Management at GM's Shanghai GM joint venture in China.

Since September 1, 2009, Paddock has served as GMIO vice president of Program Management and Planning, where he has had oversight of GM's product lineup in Asia Pacific, Africa, the Middle East, Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States.

GM, the fifth largest automobile manufacturer in India, holds a 4.7 per cent market share, behind its home rival, Ford Motor Ltd, which holds a 3.7 per cent share.