Louis R. Hughes, president of General Motors-Europe,...

Louis R. Hughes, president of General Motors-Europe, has been elected chairman of Saab Automobile, the Swedish auto maker that GM bought into 2 1/2 years ago.

Hughes succeeded Robert J. Eaton as president of General Motors Corp.’s profitable European operations when Eaton left to join Chrysler Corp. Eaton had also been chairman of Saab.

GM spokesman Ron Theis said the vote of the Saab board was a formality. Hughes will have no role in running Saab’s day-to-day operations, he said.