DETROIT: A 15-year veteran of General Motors’ PR and marketing staffs has resigned following the revelation that he pled guilty two years ago to a fraud felony unrelated to his professional position at GM.
DETROIT: A 15-year veteran of General Motors’ PR and marketing
staffs has resigned following the revelation that he pled guilty two
years ago to a fraud felony unrelated to his professional position at
GM.
Dante (Dean) Rotondo, 38, was director of marketing operations for GM’s
advertising and marketing staff at the time of his resignation, but for
most of his GM career had been part of the PR staff. Prior to joining
the marketing office, he was the PR person in charge of media relations
for advertising and marketing.
In his recently vacated marketing position, Rotondo handled GM’s 10-year
sponsorship of the Olympics, the auto giant’s co-promotions with Walt
Disney, film placements of GM products and other sports and
entertainment promotions.
According to one insider, Rotondo left because the company ’has zero
tolerance for even the appearance of impropriety’ on the part of
officials in prominent positions. Local media reported that Rotondo’s
illegal acts included a money-laundering scheme designed to help a
relative out of a gambling debt.
Indeed, Detroit (and the auto trade in particular) remains incredibly
straight-laced when it comes to the activities of its executives.
Several years ago, a Chrysler president was forced to resign after it
was revealed that he owned a parts supplier.
