Arvind Saxena may join GM India as MD

Arvind Saxena, the current Managing Director at Volkswagen Passenger Cars India, may soon join as the President and Managing Director of General Motors India, replacing Lowell Paddock.

Sources close to the developments told Business Line that he has already got an offer letter from General Motors to join on April 1, adding that Powell would now move to GM in Singapore, which is also going to become GM’s headquarters for international operations.

There were also speculations that Saxena was moving to Nissan Motor India to head the company, but sources said that he may end up joining the American company.

While Volkswagen Passenger Cars India as well as Saxena did not respond, P Balendran, Vice-President, GM India, said: “Whenever there is any personnel movement at the senior level in our company, we always come out with an announcement. This is the normal practice which we always follow.” However, he did not give any specific answers to queries such as the decision to move Lowell to Singapore even before completion of three years, which is normally a term period for any new President or a MD in a company.

Saxena joined VW in 2012 and has more than 30 years of experience in the industry.

His longest stints include Hyundai Motor India (2005 to 2012), Maruti Suzuki India (1999 to 2005) and Escorts Motorcycle and Scooter Division (1983 to 1992).

Lowell, who had joined GM India in January 2012, had replaced late Karl Slym, who was the then President and Managing Director and later moved to Tata Motors as the MD. New launches of the joint venture between GM and SAIC such as Sail U-Va, Sail sedan and Enjoy multi-purpose vehicle were all launched during his term.

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