Record sales, breaking out of government ownership, segment-setting cars, and a brand new CEO. General Motors is on a roll right now.
GM announced this morning that Dan Akerson is taking himself out of the game as Chairman and CEO, ushering in Mary Barra, the first female Chief Executive Officer in company history. Barra started down the GM path back in 1980, when she was studied electrical engineering, starting as a Pontiac student at the General Motors Institute, or Kettering University.
Since then, she's navigated up the ranks, serving as GM Vice President, Global Manufacturing Engineering; Plant Manager, Detroit Hamtramck Assembly; Executive Director of Competitive Operations Engineering; Senior Vice President, Global Product Development; and most recently GM’s Global Purchasing and Supply Chain organization and Executive Vice President, Global Product Development & Global Purchasing and Supply Chain.
Dan Ammann, executive vice president and chief financial officer, will also assume the position of company president. Naturally, there is more trickle-down, which GM detailed through tweets (below) and in the press release. The changes take effect Jan. 15.
BREAKING: $GM today announced that Dan Akerson will step down as Chairman and CEO on Jan. 15, 2014, Mary Barra will become the next CEO.
With 33 years of experience at $GM, Barra is a leader in the company’s ongoing turnaround, most recently as EVP, Global Product Development.
“I will leave with great satisfaction in what we have accomplished, great optimism over what is ahead.” – Akerson $GM
Theodore Solso, a member of the $GM Board since 2012, will succeed Akerson as Chairman.
Dan Ammann is named company president and will manage $GM’s regional operations around the world as well as global @Chevrolet and @Cadillac.
“We have a significant opportunity to further integrate and optimize our operations to deliver even better results,” – Ammann $GM
Mark Reuss will replace Barra as head of Global Product Development, Purchasing and Supply Chain. $GM
“We’re going to keep the pedal down on GM’s product resurgence and keep winning new customers.” – Reuss $GM
Alan Batey is named Executive President will replace Reuss and is named EVP and President North America. $GM
