Kaher Kazem appointed GM India head

New Delhi, Dec 7: General Motors has appointed Kaher Kazem as President and Managing Director of its India operations, effective January 1.

Kazem, who is currently chief operating officer (COO) of GM India, will be replacing Arvind Saxena who has decided to retire after leading the company since early 2014, the carmaker said in a statement.

"With Kaher's hands-on experience and direct knowledge of the business, we are pleased to appoint him to lead GM India at this important time," GM Executive Vice President and GM International President Stefan Jacoby said in a statement.

Kazem's proven track record will enable the company to deliver to Indian consumers the great vehicles they want and the world-class customer experience they deserve, he added.

Kazem joined GM Holden in Australia in 1995 as a senior engineer. He later held several leadership positions at GM Holden Manufacturing Operations.

In 2009, he was appointed vice president of Manufacturing and Quality for GM Thailand/Asean. Prior to taking on his current position earlier this year, where he managed the industrial side of the business, Kazem was president and MD of GM Uzbekistan from 2012.

"I want to thank Arvind, who has helped lay the foundation for the future success of GM India. We look forward to a smooth transition to ensure the continued execution of our business transformation," Jacoby said.

PTI