DETROIT, Nov. 13 (UPI) -- Bob Lutz, Chrysler's product visionary who joined General Motors as vice president of product development in September, Tuesday was named chairman of GM North America.
He replaces Ron Zarrella, who resigned to become chairman and chief executive officer of Bausch & Lomb.
Lutz, 69, will retain his key post in shaping GM's new vehicles. While at Chrysler, he helped take the Dodge Viper, Plymouth Prowler and PT Cruiser from the design studio to the showroom and GM is expecting him to develop equally exciting vehicles for the No. 1 automaker.
Gary Cowger was promoted from group vice president of manufacturing and labor relations to president of GM North America and will be responsible for the division's day-to-day operations.
Lutz joined GM from Exide Technologies two months ago after 39-years in the auto industry.
"Lutz and Cowger give us a very strong North America leadership team with great experience and depth," said GM President and CEO G. Richard Wagoner.
Zarrella was president of Bausch & Lomb Inc., an eye care products company based in Rochester, N.Y., when he joined GM in 1994 with ambition to become CEO but GM's market share steadily eroded under his leadership to 28.3 percent last year.
"I want to congratulate Ron Zarrella on this terrific opportunity at Bausch & Lomb," Wagoner said. "Ron has been a strong contributor at GM. More recently, he deserves credit for reviving industry sales after the tragic events of Sept. 11 by instituting GM's 'Keep America Rolling' campaign." The zero-percent interest incentives boosted GM sales by 30 percent in October.
In other auto news, Ford Motor Co. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer William Clay Ford Jr. named his cousin, Elena, to head marketing and sales at Mercury. Elena Ford, 35, is the granddaughter of company founder Henry Ford and the daughter of Greek shipping magnate Stavos Niachos and Charlotte Ford.
Bill Ford, 44, ousted president and CEO Jacques Nasser last month and took over management of the world's second-largest company.
