VW Exec Hired As Chevy’s Top Marketer

General Motors Co. has recruited longtime auto marketer Tim Mahoney as global chief marketing officer for its Chevrolet brand, effective April 1.

Mahoney also will become leader of GM's worldwide marketing operations on that date. He will report to Alan Batey, GM's interim global chief marketing officer.

Mahoney has been Volkswagen AG's U.S. chief product and marketing officer since May 2011. He previously held marketing jobs at Porsche and Subaru in North America.

CEO Dan Akerson is overhauling GM marketing to focus on promoting Cadillac and Chevy as global brands. The latter sold a record 4.95 million cars and trucks last year more than 60% of them outside the U.S.

Mahoney will be responsible for coordinating Chevy's image and promotions worldwide, using the newly adopted marketing platform, "Find New Roads."

It isn't clear if Akerson still plans to name a global leader for Chevrolet. In October Bob Ferguson was named vice president for global Cadillac and a member of the company's Executive Committee.