Cadillac sales chief Peffer resigns amidst slow sales

Fri, 20 Jun 2014

Cadillac continues to hemorrhage executives, as it's just seen its fourth high-level departure in the past year. Vice President of Global Strategic Development Don Butler (who defected to Ford) and European President and Managing Director Susan Docherty both left the company of their own volition, while Chase Hawkins, Cadillac's vice president of sales and service, was fired following a "violation of policy" in July of 2013. Strangely, it's Hawkins' replacement, Bill Peffer (shown above), who has handed in his papers this time around.

"Bill left to pursue other interests. Kurt McNeil replaces him, effective immediately," spokesman David Caldwell told Autoblog via email.

McNeil last held the VP of sales and service position back in 2012. He's currently the vice president of US sales for all of General Motors. According to The Detroit News, McNeil will take on the post in what is likely an interim capacity.

Despite posting substantial sales gains last year – some 22 percent – Cadillac sales in 2014 are actually down slightly. More worryingly, the DetNews notes that two of the brand's newer products, ATS and XTS, are down over 20 percent year-over-year through May. It is not immediately clear if Peffer's sudden departure has anything to do with the marque's sales picture, but McNeil and Co. clearly have their work cut out for them at GM.

By Brandon Turkus