Fountain Valley-based Hyundai Motor America Inc. has lost another marketing head to a rival.
Christopher Perry, vice president of marketing at Hyundai who joined the South Korean automaker’s U.S. operations in March, left to be marketing boss at General Motors Co.’s Chevrolet.
He replaces Jim Campbell, former vice president of Chevrolet marketing. Campbell now is vice president of GM’s performance vehicles and motorsport unit.
Perry joins another Hyundai marketing alum at GM.
Joel Ewanick, who joined GM in the spring as U.S. marketing chief, used to head up marketing for Hyundai, part of South Korea’s Hyundai Kia Automotive Group.
He left Hyundai in March for a short stint at Nissan North America Inc., part of Japan’s Nissan Motor Co.
Ewanick, who joined Nissan to lead advertising for the electric Nissan Leaf and other vehicles, left about a month later for GM.
At Hyundai, Ewanick expanded advertising and in late 2008 started its assurance program, which allows buyers to return an auto if they lose their jobs or face other hardships. He is credited with helping Hyundai boost market share in the downturn.
Hyundai declined to comment about a successor for Perry, who had been with Hyundai since 2000.
Suzuki Social Media Push
Brea-based American Suzuki Motor Corp. is looking to turn consumers into promoters in exchange for virtual points and real prizes.
The automaker, part of Japan’s Suzuki Motor Corp., started the Suzuki AllPoints promotion where users can earn points toward prizes by promoting Suzuki on social media sites.
The automaker hired Big Bear-based Matrix Consultants to handle the program.
Suzuki appears to be looking to the campaign as part of a larger effort to drive consumers back into showrooms.
The automaker has seen sales drastically decline during the downturn. Unlike other automakers, Suzuki has yet to turn around.
July sales were down 44% from a year earlier to 1,952 vehicles. Sales for the 12 months through July were down 48%.
The campaign includes a website where players earn points through various activities on Suzuki’s website, Facebook page, Twitter account and Youtube channel.
Users with high scores are eligible for prizes from the Apple Store, Best Buy and Shell gift cards.
Those promoting Suzuki also will be entered into a grand prize sweepstakes where the winner will drive away with a 2011 Suzuki Kizashi GTS.
The program is tied to a number of Suzuki’s upcoming promotional events.
The automaker teamed up with Florida’s Motor Trend magazine and other auto magazines to take several Suzuki vehicles through Japan, Siberia, Alaska, Canada and into Los Angeles as part of its “L.A.: The Hard Way” road trip that began earlier this month.
RiechesBaird New York Office
Irvine-based RiechesBaird is joining other locals in New York.
The branding firm opened an office in lower Manhattan late last month to serve existing clients and to seek out business on the East Coast.
RiechesBaird joins the rank of other agencies that, in the past couple of years, have made the trek east pursuing business.
Costa Mesa’s Rauxa Direct LLC moved into lower Manhattan office space in May on the heels of business with its largest client, Verizon Wireless Inc., part of New York’s Verizon Communications Inc.
Hispanic ad shop Casanova Pendrill Publicidad Inc. of Costa Mesa has run a New York office for years.
RiechesBaird’s New York office will be headed by Jerry Colpitt, a former executive with New York branding firm Global Strategy Group LLC. Colpitt joins as a vice president of business development.
He has long ties to New York, holding senior positions at other branding firms including New York-based Penn Shoen Berland LLC and New York-based Kass Uehling.
Colpitt also did a stint as the voice of Spider-Man, serving as a spokesman for the comic book character for Marvel Comics during the 1970s.
RiechesBaird does about half of its business with OC companies and the other half with national and international brands.
Clients include Irvine’s Edwards Lifescience Corp., Fort Worth, Texas-based America Airlines Cargo and Irvine’s Linksys, part of San Jose-based Cisco Systems Inc.
The company also brought on Benjamin Bidlack at the Irvine office as brand strategy director. Bidlack will serve as technology practice leader.
Prior to RiechesBaird, he was the executive director of brand strategy at New York-based InterBrand Corp. and also held senior positions at Booz Allen Hamilton Inc. and Accenture PLC.
