Top GM Executive Steps Down

SAO PAULO (AP) -- The head of General Motors' Brazil operations is stepping down.

According to a statement on the company's website, Denise Johnson is leaving GM's Brazil division for unspecified personal reasons. The Tuesday statement did not elaborate.

The note is signed by Jaime Ardila, head of GM's South America operations. He previously was the head of GM in Brazil and says that he will temporarily take Johnson's place until a replacement is found.

Johnson took the top GM post in Brazil last July. GM's sales in Brazil rose 10.4 percent last year, giving it about 20 percent of the Brazilian market