Joel Ewanick shakes up marketing team, Chris Preuss steps down as OnStar president

And now for some boring automotive industry news that probably makes no difference to your life as a new car shopper or as a car enthusiast (but we deliver it anyway since we cover basically everything).

Chris Perry has been appointed vice president of GM’s U.S. marketing arm. He is replacing Joel Ewanick, who was named Global Chief Marketing Officer on Dec. 17, 2010. Perry, 50, had served as U.S. vice president, Chevrolet Marketing, since September 2010. Perry will be responsible for “improving the positioning of the Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac brands and consumer consideration of GM vehicles in the United States.”

Rick Scheidt, currently executive director, Chevrolet product marketing, will take Perry’s place as U.S. vice president, Chevrolet Marketing. John Schwegman, currently U.S. vice president, Buick-GMC Marketing, is named U.S. vice president, GMC Marketing, while Tony DiSalle, currently product and marketing director, Chevrolet Volt, is named U.S. vice president, Buick Marketing.

GM also announced today that Linda Marshall has been appointed president of OnStar, effective February 1, 2011. She will replace Christopher Preuss, who is leaving GM to launch a communications consultancy practice.

– By: Omar Rana