Liu to replace Socia as Shanghai GM's exec VP

Shanghai, June 16 (Gasgoo.com) General Motors announced today that Joseph Liu will replace Robert Socia as executive vice president of Shanghai General Motors, the U.S. automaker's flagship Chinese venture, Dow Jones reported.

Liu is now GM Asia Pacific's vice president for sales and marketing, and he will take on his new post on July 1. Socia will become GM's vice president in charge of global purchasing and supply chain, GM (China) Investment Co. said in a statement. Socia will replace Bo Andersson, who has left GM to pursue other career opportunities.

John Stadwick, GM Asia Pacific's executive director in charge of after-sales, will succeed Liu on an interim basis before a permanent replacement is selected later. Socia and Stadwick's appointments will also take effect July 1, the statement said.

Liu has been the head of sales and marketing for GM Asia Pacific since November 2008. He previously served as a vice president in charge of the marketing division for Shanghai GM. Liu "was instrumental in making Shanghai GM a leader in the Chinese passenger car market from 2005 to 2007," the statement said.

Shanghai GM, a 50:50 joint venture between GM and Shanghai's SAIC Motor Corp, saw its sales in the first five months rise 12% year on year (y/y) to 228,000 units. It sold 56,011 vehicles in May, up 50% y/y, overtaking its April's sales growth of 34.7% (55,245 units).

GM together with its auto-making joint ventures have a combined market share in China of 13.5%.