General Motors Africa and Middle East names comms head and CFO

General Motors (GM) Africa and Middle East has announced strategic leadership appointments across communications and finance. Monica Barten has been appointed Head of Communications, succeeding Ronald Balit, who has been appointed to a new role at GM Middle East Product Marketing.

Monica leads the automotive brand’s regional communications strategy, aligning efforts with business priorities and enhancing both corporate and brand reputation in the market. With over a decade of experience in the Middle East and a global background, she has held leadership roles at Visa, Standard Chartered Bank, and Philip Morris International.

“I’m excited to join General Motors at such a pivotal time for the company. GM’s legacy, innovation leadership, and bold ambitions for the future present a unique opportunity. The team has built tremendous momentum in recent years, and I look forward to helping shape the next chapter of the GM story in the region,” said Monica.

The team also appointed Azam Akhtar to succeed Chad Wellman as Chief Financial Officer (CFO), effective 1^st March.

Commenting on the appointments, Jack Uppal, President and Managing Director of General Motors Africa and Middle East, said: “Strong leadership is central to delivering our regional ambitions. These appointments further strengthen our leadership team, combining regional insight with global expertise. They position us to support growth, transformation, and innovation across Africa and the Middle East.”