General Motors India Appoints Arvind Saxena As President & Managing Director; Lowell Paddock, Moving To GM International Operations

General Motors India has appointed industry veteran Arvind Saxena to succeed Lowell Paddock as president and managing director of GM India, the company announced in a statement Friday.

Saxena, who will join GM from Volkswagen India where he headed the German auto maker’s passenger car division, has also worked at Maruti (NSE:MARUTI), one of India’s largest automobile companies along with stints at Fiat and the two-wheeler division of Escorts (NSE:ESCORTS).

“GM is committed to India and with Arvind’s leadership, we look forward to recognizing the long-term growth potential of the market” Stefan Jacoby, GM’s executive vice president and president of GM’s international operations, said in the statement.

Paddock, who has led GM (NYSE:GM) in India since January 2012, will take over as vice president of planning and program management at GM International Operations, or GMIO.

GM's Chevrolet brand has been present in India -- one of the world’s fastest-growing car markets – since 2003 and offers products ranging from small hatchbacks to sedans and sport-utility vehicles in the country.