Cadillac Names Deborah Wahl Global Chief Marketing Officer

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http://www.gm.com/mol/m-2018-mar-0306-cadillac.html
Cadillac has appointed Deborah Wahl as Global Chief Marketing Officer, effective March 26. Wahl will be based in the company’s New York headquarters and report to Cadillac President Johan de Nysschen. Deborah will lead the strategic marketing for the Cadillac brand around the world, building on the transformational work that has been done over the past several years.

“Deborah’s diverse experience, as well as her proven track record of building successful global brands, makes her a natural addition to our leadership team,” said Cadillac President Johan de Nysschen. “Cadillac has made incredible progress over the past several years in our long-term journey to regain our position as the pinnacle of premium luxury brands. Deborah’s experience and strategic vision will build on that progress and help propel Cadillac forward during our next phase of global growth.”

Wahl, who brings over 20 years of experience with high-level marketing and brand work, serves on the Boards of Directors of Groupon and media software company Mediaocean. She helmed marketing for three years as Chief Marketing Officer at McDonald’s, where she played an instrumental role in transforming the business and increasing brand perception.

Previously, Wahl served as the first-ever CMO at PulteGroup, one of the country’s largest homebuilders. Additionally, Wahl brings deep automotive experience, having served as VP and CMO at Chrysler, VP of Marketing at Lexus, and having held multiple Marketing and Communications roles at Ford.
Some Lexus aficionados might remember her, this one-time company exec who departed them for Chrysler right before the bankruptcy is back in the business.
 

Joaquin Ruhi

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Some Lexus aficionados might remember her, this one-time company exec who departed them for Chrysler right before the bankruptcy is back in the business.
Yes, I remember her. And, if I recall correctly, "good riddance" was my reaction when she left Lexus.
 
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Yes, I remember her. And, if I recall correctly, "good riddance" was my reaction when she left Lexus.
She followed the gravy train to DCX like the other big wig Jim Press, and both were there equally long. If she stayed at Ford where she started, perhaps she would be where Jim Farley is now. But hey, she got to work the drive-thru window the past three years.
 

Joaquin Ruhi

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She followed the gravy train to DCX like the other big wig Jim Press, and both were there equally long. If she stayed at Ford where she started, perhaps she would be where Jim Farley is now. But hey, she got to work the drive-thru window the past three years.
Indeed, Jim Farley going to Ford was a notable loss for Toyota. Jim Press and Deborah Wahl to Chrysler? Not so much.
 

mmcartalk

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Maybe she can talk them into (finally) getting rid of the CUE system. It has cost Cadillac dearly in customer complaints and market share...but the company stubbornly persists with it.
 

Ian Schmidt

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I honestly have no idea what Cadillac's marketing strategy is and the lineup is so confusing right now.

Yeah. They have like 3 cars hanging out in the GS price range, they way overcharge for the V variants, and they don't have a true flagship. The CT6 could be a flagship, but they need to bump both the base equipment and base price up significantly - maybe throw in Super Cruise for free as a statement of intent.
 

mmcartalk

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I honestly have no idea what Cadillac's marketing strategy is and the lineup is so confusing right now.


Up till now, in addition to the money being spent on new SUVs, it seems to be trying to make BMWs out of their sedan lineup.....when most of their customers don't want sport-sedans.
 

mikeavelli

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Up till now, in addition to the money being spent on new SUVs, it seems to be trying to make BMWs out of their sedan lineup.....when most of their customers don't want sport-sedans.

Yeah I don't think that worked so well, even as they drive pretty good. So they have a lot of digging to do with marketing.

Yeah. They have like 3 cars hanging out in the GS price range, they way overcharge for the V variants, and they don't have a true flagship. The CT6 could be a flagship, but they need to bump both the base equipment and base price up significantly - maybe throw in Super Cruise for free as a statement of intent.

Yeah the car lineup is very confusing and if you add the ATS-V you have 4 Cadillac sedans that can be had at 60k. Then you have the random SRX and their flagship Escalade which always does well. Marketing hasn't really explained IMO what the brand is. What is a Cadillac today?

I still think they (and Lincoln) need to announce how they are the best American luxury/sport and make some world beaters.
 

mmcartalk

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I still think they (and Lincoln) need to announce how they are the best American luxury/sport and make some world beaters.

Actually, the new Navigator does exactly that. I don't know if you have seen or driven one yet, but it is awesome. Nothing at all like the Ho-Hum designs of the last two decades.
 
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I honestly have no idea what Cadillac's marketing strategy is and the lineup is so confusing right now.
The thing that they have going is the XT5, upcoming XT4 and the Escalade, though the Navi is finally giving it a run now that it is totally new. The sedans are lame duck unfortunately, though CTS-V and ATS-V are still cool.