Rick Wagoner, GM chairman and chief executive officer, today announced the following executive retirements and appointments:

• John Middlebrook, 67, GM vice president, global sales, service and marketing operations, will retire effective July 1, 2008.
• Jonathan Browning, 48, GM Europe vice president, sales, marketing and aftersales, is appointed GM vice president, global sales, service and marketing, effective June 1, 2008.
• W. W. Brent Dewar, 53, GM North America vice president, field sales, service and parts, is appointed GM Europe vice president, sales, marketing and aftersales, effective June 1, 2008.

"John Middlebrook has made tremendous contributions to GM in a variety of roles over the past 49 years," said Wagoner. "He is well known and highly respected and admired throughout the industry as a true sales and marketing professional. I've enjoyed working closely with John in the past several years as he has led GM's efforts to integrate and leverage our sales and marketing capabilities globally."

Middlebrook's career spanned assignments with Pontiac, Saturn and Chevrolet divisions, as well as the Worldwide Product Planning Group and the Marketing and Product Planning Staff. He served as GM vice president, general manager, vehicle brand marketing and corporate advertising. Middlebrook is a graduate of the General Motors Institute (now Kettering University) with a bachelor's degree in engineering, and earned a master's degree in marketing from Michigan State University.

In recent years, GM has expanded rapidly in global markets. Last year, GM sold 9.37 million vehicles worldwide, and the company had record sales in its three regions outside of North America: Asia-Pacific, Europe, and Latin America, Africa and the Middle East. During this period, the Chevrolet brand has also grown rapidly outside North America, selling a total of 4.5 million vehicles in 2007.

"Jonathan Browning brings a wealth of experience in automotive sales and marketing in the European market to this position," said Wagoner. "He played a key role in making GM the fastest growing major manufacturer in Europe, with a well developed multi-brand strategy. I look forward to working closely with Jonathan in his new global position."

"Brent Dewar has been a strong leader in GM's sales and marketing operations in the U.S., Canada and Brazil for many years, and he has a strong track record of working closely and effectively with GM dealers," said Wagoner. "This broad experience makes him an excellent choice to lead our sales and marketing activities in the growing and rapidly changing European region."