Former Saturn Executive, Now New Saab CEO, Wants Shake Up.(Originated from Detroit Free Press)

Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News, June, 1996 by Adler, Alan L.

Jun. 6--Joel Manby was there at the startup of Saturn Corp. a decade ago, helping decide how many dealerships it would have and where they would be located. What resulted helped make Saturn the retailing envy of the auto industry.

Now, after running Saturn stores, its central U.S. operations and helping decide what cars and trucks General Motors Corp. would export, Manby has a new challenge: Adapt what worked at Saturn to Saab Cars USA, where he was named chief executive officer and president Wednesday.

"This isn't about 'Saturnizing' Saab," Manby said in an interview. "This is about protecting and growing the Saab brand. I am very sensitive to the idea that Saturn will work in Saab. It would be a great way to destroy Saab and maybe hurt Saturn."...

Read the rest of this article with a Free Trial at HighBeam Research.

Premium Content Partnership | HighBeam Research provides an in-depth online archive library of reference works.