General Motors India Announces Leadership Change

By Arjun Kashyap - General Motors India has appointed industry veteran Arvind Saxena to succeed Lowell Paddock as president and managing director of GM India, the company announced in a statement Friday.

Saxena, who will join GM from Volkswagen India where he headed the German auto maker’s passenger car division, has also worked at Maruti (NSE:MARUTI), one of India’s largest automobile companies along with stints at Fiat and the two-wheeler division of Escorts (NSE:ESCORTS).

“GM is committed to India and with Arvind’s leadership, we look forward to recognizing the long-term growth potential of the market” Stefan Jacoby, GM’s executive vice president and president of GM’s international operations, said in the statement.

Paddock, who has led GM (NYSE:GM) in India since January 2012, will take over as vice president of planning and program management at GM International Operations, or GMIO.

GM's Chevrolet brand has been present in India -- one of the world’s fastest-growing car markets – since 2003 and offers products ranging from small hatchbacks to sedans and sport-utility vehicles in the country.