Peterson to Lead GM Diversity Dealer Relations Efforts

DETROIT – Eric Peterson has been named U.S. vice president, Diversity Dealer Relations, at General Motors Co., effective immediately.

Peterson, 61, formerly U.S. vice president of Corporate Diversity, will advance GM’s commitment to increase the number of minority dealers in its dealer network and support automotive diversity. In this role, he will represent GM at diverse dealer organization activities and strengthen GM’s relationships with these organizations.  Peterson will report to Mark Reuss, GM executive vice president and president of GM North America.

Additionally, Peterson will be responsible for expanding GM’s Minority Dealer Development and Women’s Retail Network activity and representing the interests of minority and women dealer candidates. In this role he will report to Brian Small, general manager, Sales Support.

Peterson began his GM career with Buick in 1976. He has held a number of sales positions with increasing levels of responsibility at Buick and Chevrolet, and was chosen to head GM’s Minority Dealer Development organization in 1998. Most recently, Peterson has coordinated GM’s efforts to engage with its minority dealers and external dealer organizations to understand and address the issues they face.

“GM was the first auto company to have a minority dealer development program, and we look forward to working with Eric and his team to expand GM’s minority dealer body,” said Damon Lester, president of the National Association of Minority Automobile Dealers. “This move demonstrates that GM understands that empowering minority entrepreneurs is vital to its long-term success.”

Peterson earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing with a minor in management from Ohio University, and completed the Executive Development Program at Northwestern University and the Advanced Management Program at Harvard University.

SOURCE: General Motors