Exclusive: Top GM exec visiting Holden

The head of General Motors’ international operations will visit Holden this month before a decision is made on the next stage of the iconic company’s future. Stefan Jacoby is one of two executives who will decide the manufacturing future of Holden; the other is the global boss of General Motors, Dan Akerson.

Holden insiders insist that Mr Jacoby is not being sent to Australia to announce a shutdown — a decision on the factory’s future is still up to six months away. Mr Jacoby’s visit comes as Holden continues to pressure the Federal Government for increased taxpayer support for two new models to be built from 2016 to 2022.

Coalition infighting threatens to spike the deal, with Cabinet split on whether or not to save the Australian car manufacturing industry. If Holden shuts its factories, Toyota insiders and industry analysts believe Toyota will do the same because they rely on the same supplier base to achieve economies of scale.

News of Mr Jacoby’s visit emerged as it was confirmed yesterday that Holden factory workers will get a 3 per cent pay rise next week and a $1000 bonus next month because they remain on an old workplace agreement.

As part of the deal signed by 1700 Holden workers in September, the three-year wage freeze and other restrictions only kick-in if the Federal Government and Holden strike a deal to build two new cars into the early 2020s.

Mr Jacoby will make Australia one of the first stops on a world tour in his new role and is expected to visit the Holden car-making factory in Elizabeth in South Australia and the engine factory in Port Melbourne, Victoria.

Based in Shanghai, Mr Jacoby is the executive to whom former Holden chief Mike Devereux reports in his new role.

Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union SA secretary John Camillo said the union would like to meet with the General Motors heavyweight to put its case forward. “If Mr Jacoby is coming to Australia the union would like to have a meeting with him,” said Mr Camillo.

“We would like to underline our commitment to finding a way to make Holden viable. Our workers are flexible, we are prepared to continue to work with Holden to secure future jobs.”

However Mr Camillo stopped short of offering any further wage cuts. “Holden workers made sacrifices to help the company get through the Global Financial Crisis, and we agreed to new conditions to try and get a new deal over the line, to see Holden building cars over the next 10 years.”

Mr Jacoby’s automotive expertise covers finance, sales and marketing, but News Corp Australia understands he will decide the future or the fate of the Holden factories with the global boss of General Motors Dan Akerson, rather than the manufacturing boss Tim Lee.

General Motors is the third international car company that Mr Jacoby has worked for in four years, having previously worked for Volvo and Volkswagen. Mr Jacoby, 55, left Volvo in October 2012, a month after suffering a mild stroke.

Volvo said his illness had nothing to do with his departure. The Reuters news agency reported at the time Mr Jacoby left the company after falling short of international sales targets.

Although sales of the new Commodore rose by 35 per cent last month, Mr Jacoby’s visit to Holden will come as the car maker braces for its lowest sales in 20 years and continues to negotiate with the Federal Government for an increase in taxpayer support.

Mr Jacoby, from Germany, started his new job with General Motors in August this year and oversees the company’s operations in more than 100 countries in Asia, Europe and the Middle East.

At the time of his appointment General Motors said Mr Jacoby is fit to run the company’s international operations and declined to discuss his health further, the Reuters news agency reported.

Stefan Jacoby biography

August 2013 Executive Vice President of Consolidated International Operations at General Motors

2010 to 2012 Volvo CEO

2007 to 2010 VW USA President and CEO

2004 to 2007 VW Global Sales and Marketing

2001 to 2004 Mitsubishi Europe, President and CEO

1997 to 2001 VW Asia-Pacific, Vice President

1995 to 1997 VW Head of the general office of the Chairman of the Board

1992 to 1995 VW Head of export sales planning department

1990 to 1992 VW-Audi Head of controlling, Japan

1989 to 1990 VW Commercial Vehicles, global pricing

1988 to 1990 VW USA marketing department

1985 to 1988 VW Industrial sales and controlling department

This reporter is on Twitter: @JoshuaDowling