(May 25, 2010) General Motors today announced that Susan E. Docherty has been appointed GM vice president, International Operational Sales, Marketing and Aftersales, effective June 1.  Docherty, 47, will report to Tim Lee, president, GM International Operations (GMIO).

 "Growth in China and other emerging markets is important to the company’s future,” said GM Chairman and CEO, Ed Whitacre.  “We are counting on Susan to make a significant contribution and I am glad to have her running this critical part of our business."

GM sells lmost 50 percent of all new vehicles within GMIO, which is comprised of more than 90 markets including Asia Pacific, Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).  Most of the GMIO countries are considered emerging markets and are an engine of GMIO growth over the next decade.

Docherty’s role in the region will be to coordinate sales, marketing and aftersales in GM’s Asia Pacific, Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, Russia and CIS operations.  She will have responsibility for market performance, improving the opinion and consideration of Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, Holden and Cadillac brands to drive consumer demand for GM vehicles.

This month, Docherty handed over responsibility for U.S. marketing to Joel Ewanick, the former Hyundai Motors America marketer, whom GM hired as its fourth head of U.S. marketing in a year.

Docherty took control of U.S. sales in October after spending more than a year as general manager of Buick-Pontiac-GMC. In December, she was put in charge of marketing as well. In March, Docherty yielded responsibility for sales to North American President Mark Reuss.

Former Vice Chairman Bob Lutz and former U.S. sales boss Mark LaNeve also had stints as head of GM's U.S. marketing in the past year.