General Motors Africa Middle East Leadership Strengthened with Strategic Appointments
General Motors (GM) Africa and Middle East has announced strategic leadership appointments across Finance and Communications, reinforcing the company’s commitment to the future of mobility while strengthening relationships with customers and partners across the region. The appointments include Azam Akhtar as Chief Financial Officer and Monica Barten as Head of Communications, effective March 1 and January 19 respectively.
New CFO Brings Decade of GM Experience
Effective March 1, Azam Akhtar will succeed Chad Wellman as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for GM Africa and Middle East. Akhtar brings more than a decade of experience across General Motors, spanning Global Product Programs, Advanced Vehicle Development, Global Manufacturing, Treasury and Commercial Financial Planning and Analysis. Meanwhile, Wellman will transition to a global role as Finance Director of Global Purchasing and Supply Chain, Financial Planning and Analysis and Logistics.
“I’m honored and at the same time excited to take on this role as a new challenge. Africa and the Middle East is a strategically important region for GM, and I look forward to supporting sustainable growth, financial strength, and the company’s transformation journey.”
Azam Akhtar, Incoming CFO, GM Africa and Middle East
Monica Barten Appointed Head of Communications
On January 19, GM Africa and Middle East welcomed Monica Barten as Head of Communications, succeeding Ronald Balit who has been appointed to a new role in GM Middle East Product Marketing. Barten will lead the 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 strong global background, Barten 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.”
Monica Barten, Head of Communications, GM Africa and Middle East
Strategic Leadership for Regional Growth
Commenting on the General Motors Africa Middle East leadership appointments, Jack Uppal, President and Managing Director of General Motors Africa and Middle East, emphasized the importance of strong leadership in delivering regional ambitions. The appointments strengthen the leadership team by combining regional insight with global expertise, positioning the company to support growth, transformation, and innovation across Africa and the Middle East.
As General Motors marks more than 100 years of automotive leadership in Africa and Middle East, the company continues to advance personal autonomous technologies and digital services through its world-class vehicles from Chevrolet, GMC and Cadillac. The GM Africa & Middle East operations are headquartered in Dubai, UAE with a manufacturing plant in Egypt, serving 29 countries through a network of 17 distributors and over 203 customer-facing locations.
