Denise van Huyssteen elected to chair GM’s International Women’s Council

PORT ELIZABETH – Plans to ensure that the General Motors Women’s Council priorities becomes fully integrated within the company’s overall business strategy is high on the agenda of the newly appointed General Motors International (GMI) chairperson, Denise Van Huyssteen.

Denise Van Huyssteen, the General Manager of Communications and PR for GM markets in Africa, occupied the role as chairperson of the Women’s Council in South Africa before recently being appointed in the role of chairing the council for the company’s International region.

“Ultimately our goal is to be an employer of choice for women and to sell more vehicles to more women…”

“Ultimately our goal is to be an employer of choice for women and to sell more vehicles to more women.  To this end specific areas of focus include employee personal and professional development, strong brands and products, building customers for life and driving a culture of diversity. “These are important imperatives for our business as we aim to grow in the markets in which the company operates.”

Van Huyssteen said that during 2016 the GM International Women’s Council would be encouraging the various markets to expand their reach from primarily internal initiatives to also incorporate an external focus on customers.

“We are taking a holistic view in terms of the role the Council will play in serving as a platform to promote focus in the high priority areas of focus for the company. Key to our success will be securing the support of senior leadership in all the markets and involving their teams to drive key actions,” said Van Huyssteen.

Port Elizabeth born Van Huyssteen has worked for General Motors for 15 years and is a member of the Executive Committee for GM South Africa, a strategic advisor of the GM South Africa Women’s Council, Trustee of the GM South Africa Foundation and is a Director on the Nelson Mandela Bay Chamber of Commerce and Industry Board.