Just two weeks after being named president of GM's new Saturn Corp. unit, Joseph Sanchez, 54, died in Lansing, MI. Sanchez, who had spent much of his 30-year career in GM's South American operations, had suffered two heart attacks the week before his death. He became the head of GM's Brazilian division in 1976, and in 1983, took over as general manager of the Oldsmobile Division.

Sanchez was pictured on Automotive Fleet's cover last March (see photo below) with one of GM's C-bodies. William E. Hoglund has been named Sanchez's successor as head of the $5 billion Saturn venture.