AMC Promotes Dedeurwaerder, Cappy

American Motors Corp. directors promoted company President Jose Dedeurwaerder to vice chairman and promoted chief operating officer Joseph Cappy to president and chief executive.

The moves were the latest in a series that allow Dedeurwaerder to expand his simultaneous duties at the French auto maker Renault, which controls Southfield, Mich.-based AMC with a 46% ownership.

In January, Dedeurwaerder, 53, was named executive vice president of worldwide sales and marketing for Renault and head of manufacturing outside its main base of France and Belgium.

Cappy had been running AMC operations since, having become chief operating officer in December. He now consolidates the titles of president, chief executive officer and chief operating officer.

Also in December, Pierre Semerena resigned as Renault’s No. 2 official to become AMC’s first non-American chairman.

Cappy, 51, who held sales, marketing and financial jobs for 26 years at Ford Motor Co., has been groomed for the AMC presidency for more than a year.

AMC also announced that chief financial officer Jean-Marc Lepeu will return to Renault on April 30 and will be replaced by controller John Tierney. Kenneth Lawton was elected vice president and treasurer and Joseph Chama Srour will be the new controller. Srour is from Renault’s financial division.