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http://theage.drive.com.au/motor-new...0322-qpna.html

Holden appoints new boss
RICHARD BLACKBURN
March 22, 2010

Holden has its fifth new boss in less than three years.

Holden has its fifth boss in less than three years, with 44-year-old Mike Devereux named as the company’s new chairman and managing director.

Devereux joins the company from General Motors’ Middle East operations, based in Dubai.

He replaces Alan Batey, who was recently appointed vice president of sales and service for Chevrolet in the United States. Batey was in the top job at Holden for just six months.

Devereux has been with General Motors his entire working life, joining the company as an engineering co-op student in Ontario, Canada, 26 years ago.

Since then, he has worked in manufacturing, product development and regional management roles throughout the GM global network.

Tim Lee, President of GM International Operations, said in statement that Mr Devereux’s diverse, global experience and passion for cars made him ideally suited to lead Holden in Australia and New Zealand.

“Coupled with an absolute passion for cars, Mike brings rare experience across almost every area of the automotive business including manufacturing, product development and senior management roles in GM’s international operations, marketing, sales and aftersales including the then newly formed e-Business group.”

Devereux also has experience with the Commodore, which is exported to the Middle East as the Chevrolet Lumina.

He was born in Great Britain, but moved to Toronto as a child. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in industrial engineering and a master’s degree in business administration from Harvard University.

Since former boss Denny Mooney left Holden in August 2007, Holden has had four bosses in less than three years.

Mooney was replaced by Chris Gubbey, who lasted just seven months before being replaced by Mark Reuss. Reuss himself spent just 18 months at Holden before taking up a senior position in Detroit and handing over the reins to Batey.