Key European sales role for former Holden exec

FORMER GM Holden executive director of marketing, Bill Mott, has been appointed regional sales manager for Opel in Europe, covering Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Austria.

Mr Mott recently repatriated to General Motors’ European division after almost three-and-a-half years in Australia, having transferred here in late 2011 to head up the launch of the standalone Opel brand.

After Opel was disbanded in Australia after less than a year in the marketplace, Mr Mott became marketing director for Holden, rising to executive director status in October last year.

Born in Norway and fluent in English, German and Portuguese, Mr Mott has more than two decades’ experience with Opel behind him, and played a key role in Holden’s ‘Opelisation’ strategy – including overseeing the current ‘Let’s Go There’ campaign – as it winds down its Australian manufacturing operations and becomes a full-line import brand in 2017.

Holden will now source at least a third of its cars from GM Europe as the company reshapes its model line-up.

In his new position, Mr Mott will report to executive director of sales (Europe), Rory Harvey. His previous role in Europe was as group marketing manager of Opel mini and small cars, while earlier in his career he led the marketing functions in Germany, Switzerland and Portugal.

He was replaced in Australia by Geraldine Davys, who joined Holden after a brief stint at online comparison service iSelect.

She spent the previous nine years with Sensis (Telstra Media), the last four of which were in the capacity of group manager of brand, marketing and digital communications.