General Motors Canada is getting a new president with his predecessor moving to the automaker's public policy centre.

Incoming GM Canada president Kevin Williams will report to Mark Reuss, who has been president of GM North America since December, and replace Arturo Elias, who has headed the Canadian operation since 2006.

The change at the Oshawa, Ont.-based Canadian subsidiary was part of a broader overhaul of GM's North American management structure.

The Detroit automaker will again split sales from marketing after only combining them under Susan Docherty in December. Docherty now leads marketing while sales will be headed by Steve Carlisle, who was Southeast Asia executive director.

"It's become extremely clear to me since taking this role that there is a better way to structure this organization," Reuss said in a statement.

"The premise of the structure is simple–a clearer marketing focus to sell more vehicles, and freeing our sales and service experts to focus on customers and dealers."

The company also split up sales and marketing for its remaining brands, Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac and reassigned other executives.

Elias will now report to John Montford, GM's senior adviser of public policy.