General Motors India rings in senior level changes

New Delhi: General Motors India Thursday announced senior management changes with its long-serving Vice President of Corporate Affairs P Balendran moving in to an advisory role while appointing two new vice-presidents for the role of communications and government relations.

The company said Swati Bhattacharya has been appointed as Vice President of Communications and Pankaj Gupta as Vice President of Government Relations and Public Policy.

Both appointments are effective September 10, 2015.

Balendran, who has served as GM India Vice President of Corporate Affairs since joining GM India in 1998, will take on the new position of senior advisor to the company, effective October 31, 2015, the company said in a statement.

When contacted, Balendran, who played a key role in handling several crises faced by the company, including the recall of 1.14 lakh units of Tavera in 2013 over emission specifications, said: "I will be moving into a new role."

GM India said Bhattacharya would be responsible for the company's communications strategy, including the rebuilding of "the reputation of the Chevrolet brand and partnering with GM India Marketing to grow brand awareness".

Bhattacharya joins GM India from Ingersoll Rand India, where she had served as Vice-President of Corporate Relations, Public Affairs and Branding.

Pankaj Gupta, who would be responsible for working with central and state government officials as well as with industry bodies on policies, comes from Volkswagen India.

"When we recently announced a new USD 1 billion investment strategy for the Indian market, we highlighted that new people will join General Motors to help us as we grow in India," General Motors India, President and Managing Director, Arvind Saxena, said.

In July, General Motors CEO Mary Barra had announced that it would close its first plant at Halol in Gujarat to consolidate operations.