GAZ Chief Andersson to Head AvtoVAZ?

Bo Andersson, the CEO of Russian truck producer OAO GAZ, may be switching to the same job at carmaker OAO AvtoVAZ, Reuters reports.

The AvtoVAZ board has publicly recommended Andersson to replace CEO Igor Komarov, who reportedly is leaving the job after four years to join Russia's space agency.

Andersson was in charge of global purchasing and logistics at General Motors Co. before moving to GAZ in 2009. He is credited with reviving the latter company, primarily by improving efficiency and cutting costs.

Komarov earned a similar reputation at AvtoVAZ, Russia's largest carmaker. But last week the company reported a net loss for the first half of 2013. Slumping demand has cut sales of its Lada brand cars 14% in the January-September period, according to the Moscow-based Assn. of European Businesses.

The Renault-Nissan alliance is expected to take control of AvtoVAZ next year through Alliance Rostec Auto BV, a venture created in 2012 by the alliance and Russian Technologies State Corp.