GM Mexico Names Garza President

General Motors' president and managing director of its Mexico operations has retired and will be succeeded by Francisco Garza, GM de Mexico's current vice president of vehicle sales, service and marketing.

Ernesto M. Hernandez will step down after almost 40 years with the company effective Sept. 1, according to the automaker. Garza will report to Barry Engle, executive vice president and president, the Americas.

Juan Carlos Garcia, currently CFO of GM de Mexico, will take Garza'a VP role. He will report to Garza.

Hernandez will remain on as GM advisor and assist in a smooth leadership transition.

Hernandez started working in General Motors in 1980, according to General Motors. Over the years he held numerous positions of growing responsibility in product engineering, manufacturing, planning, program management, vehicle sales, and marketing and aftersales, both in Mexico and in the United States. He was appointed president and managing director of GM de Mexico in 2011, becoming the first Mexican national to hold this position.