Alexander Rhea
Encyclopedia
Alexander Dodson Rhea was a U.S. born industrialist
who occupied a series of senior roles with General Motors
in the decades following World War II
. Between 1949 and 1955 he was treasury and managing director with General Motors de Venezuela based in Caracas
before returning to North America. Between 1968 and 1970 he was managing director of General Motors' Australian division, Holden
. In September 1970 GM’s British based Vauxhall
division announced that their £64,000-a-year chief executive, David Hegland had been placed on “special leave of absence” a month after the division announced its worst ever half-year trading loss, and Rhea took over the position of managing director at Vauxhall, a position which he held until 1974.
Alexander Rhea III was the son of Alexander D. Rhea Jr and his wife Annie. Rhea himself married Suzanne Menocal in 1945: the marriage produced one recorded son.
Business magnate
A business magnate, sometimes referred to as a capitalist, czar, mogul, tycoon, baron, oligarch, or industrialist, is an informal term used to refer to an entrepreneur who has reached prominence and derived a notable amount of wealth from a particular industry .-Etymology:The word magnate itself...
who occupied a series of senior roles with General Motors
General Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
in the decades following World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Between 1949 and 1955 he was treasury and managing director with General Motors de Venezuela based in Caracas
Caracas
Caracas , officially Santiago de León de Caracas, is the capital and largest city of Venezuela; natives or residents are known as Caraquenians in English . It is located in the northern part of the country, following the contours of the narrow Caracas Valley on the Venezuelan coastal mountain range...
before returning to North America. Between 1968 and 1970 he was managing director of General Motors' Australian division, Holden
Holden
GM Holden Ltd is an automaker that operates in Australia, based in Port Melbourne, Victoria. The company was founded in 1856 as a saddlery manufacturer. In 1908 it moved into the automotive field, before becoming a subsidiary of the U.S.-based General Motors in 1931...
. In September 1970 GM’s British based Vauxhall
Vauxhall Motors
Vauxhall Motors is a British automotive company owned by General Motors and headquartered in Luton. It was founded in 1857 as a pump and marine engine manufacturer, began manufacturing cars in 1903 and was acquired by GM in 1925. It has been the second-largest selling car brand in the UK for...
division announced that their £64,000-a-year chief executive, David Hegland had been placed on “special leave of absence” a month after the division announced its worst ever half-year trading loss, and Rhea took over the position of managing director at Vauxhall, a position which he held until 1974.
Alexander Rhea III was the son of Alexander D. Rhea Jr and his wife Annie. Rhea himself married Suzanne Menocal in 1945: the marriage produced one recorded son.