GM May Split Duties of Former Global Marketing Chief

Mark Reuss, president of General Motors Co.'s North America unit, tells Bloomberg News that the company is interviewing candidates for several senior marketing jobs.

GM hasn't had a top marketing executive since it fired Chief Marketing Officer Joel Ewanick in July over his handling of a global soccer sponsorship deal. Alan Batey, vice president of U.S. sales and service, is filling the post until a successor is named.

Reuss notes that the company hasn't said it would retain the CMO position, which was created two years ago for Ewanick. Reuss says GM is looking for "marketing talent for all our divisions," Bloomberg reports.

News reports this autumn said CEO Dan Akerson is reorganizing the company's corporate structure by brand and global function instead of by region. GM has been tinkering with its marketing and advertising since it emerged from bankruptcy in July 2009.

Last month Akerson named a new Cadillac chief with responsibility for the brand's global marketing and plans to create a similar position at Chevrolet. Automotive News predicted at the time that the two executives would handle Ewanick's former duties.