Ex-GM exec kept Man U soccer deal's full US$559mil costs hidden

DETROIT: General Motors Co fired its global marketing chief last week for not properly disclosing as much as a third of the cost of a US$559 million sponsorship deal with English football club Manchester United, people familiar with the matter said on Wednesday.

Joel Ewanick was ousted after a whistleblower in the No. 1 U.S. automaker's marketing department questioned some aspects of the deal that will put the company's Chevrolet brand name on the shirts of the football club's players starting in the 2014-2015 season, said the people, who asked not to be identified discussing a matter that has not been made public.