Gm's New Regional Premium Brands Director and New Super Car Challenge

General Motors has recently announced their newlya great time to be working on these exciting brands
appointed regional premium brands director.and to be able to play a part in their growth," said
Mohammed Hmeid was chosen as the new premiumHmeid.
brands editor and expected to bring some fresh ideasHmeid has replaced Chase Hawkins who was the
and perspective in marketing the different brands ofregional division marketing director for Premium Brands
the automaker.from 2005 to 2006 and transferred recently to South
Hmeid joins General Motors in early 2006 andAfrica to occupy the same position of sales director at
previously held a position as product and portfolioGM South Africa.
planning manager & new business development. WhileIn other GM news: General Motors has accepted the
at the position he acted as the key representative forDodge Viper challenge. According to Chairman Bob
the Middle East and was in charge of product planning,Lutz, the new 600 horsepower 2008 Dodge Viper
business and organization as well as managingSRT10 won't be keeping its title as the king-of-the-road
different types of product portfolio which includesfor long once GM releases its Corvette Blue Devil
leading and managing the Armoured Vehicle projectwhich is said to be the automaker's next generation
sales, aftersales and marketing through effectivesuper sports car.
implementation."As you all know, it is not our policy to discuss future
Hmeid in his new role as regional premium brandsproduct programs. However…," he said to
director, he will be responsible for various marketinghumor the audience, "it is very important for Corvette
activities, aftersales and dealer support of various GMto be the most powerful, most capable, best handling
brands like Cadillac, Saab and HUMMER. For this yearsports car in the United States." And of course in order
his main focus is to effectively re-launch the Saabto make the Corvette Blue Devil to become the super
brand in the region. He will also make sure thatsports car it needs quality auto parts, the best that
customers will be able to get the ultimate ownershipGeneral Motors can produce. Come to think of it, GM
experience out from owning Cadillac, Saab andhas always been a leader when it comes to
HUMMER. He is also to focus on expanding theproduction of top-of-the-line car parts and an example
business by taking every available opportunity there isof which is its line of GM fender flares which are
for growth.popular for their quality and durability.
Terry Johnson, Managing Director of GM in the MiddleLutz has also acknowledged that the top-level
East has expressed her gladness in the appointmenthorsepower of GM's Corvette was surpassed by a
of Hmeid. She said, "I am very pleased to welcomerecent competitor but quickly added "the Corvette
Mohammed to this new position. His rich backgroundvehicle line executive will not take that lying down."
will help grow the Premium Brands business. He isAccording to Bob Gitzinger, Senior Editor for news at
results driven and has great diverse businessAutoWeek magazine, Chevrolet is developing a
knowledge with propensity to explore newCorvette that is known in several names: the Blue
opportunities and translate them into unique conceptsDevil, Stingray, Devil Ray or SS. "We all know the new
and consumer offerings."Corvette is out there. The car is in development and
Before joining General Motors Hmeid was the brandit's been speculated that it will have about 650
manager at British American Tobacco and has alsohorsepower…It's supposed to be here in 2009.
held the same position in BMW Group Middle East. "It is