Former Aston Martin Exec Hired as Spyker’s Americas Chief

Dutch performance car maker Spyker NV has recruited John Walton, a former North America chief for Aston Martin Lagonda, as its chief commercial officer and managing director of the Americas unit.

Walton starts immediately and will report to Spyker CEO Victor Muller. The Zeewolde-based company is struggling to recover from the bankruptcy and sale of its Saab Automobile unit.

Spyker, which sold only about 12 cars last year, aims to build volume and attain profitability with the new D12 SUV that was unveiled at the Geneva auto show in 2008. The company is trying to raise €25 million ($31 million) to bring the model to market, Automotive News Europe reports.

Walton joined Ford Motor Co. in 1980 and held jobs with several suppliers before Aston Martin hired him. During his stint in North America, Aston Martin sales there multiplied from 200 cars in 2001 to more than 2,400 in 2007.