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FOR RELEASE: 2009-07-23
General Motors Forms Executive Committee, Announces Leadership Appointments and Retirements
DETROIT - General Motors Company today announced the formation of the executive committee that will lead the new GM, as well as a number of leadership appointments and retirements.
New Executive Committee
On July 10, Fritz Henderson, GM president and CEO, announced that GM would speed day-to-day decision making by replacing two senior leadership forums, the Automotive Strategy Board and Automotive Product Board, with a single, smaller executive committee. Led by Henderson, the executive committee membership will include:
Tim Lee, currently GM North America vice president, manufacturing, will become a group vice president, responsible for global manufacturing and labor relations. Prior to his current assignment, Lee, 58, was GM Europe vice president of manufacturing. He has also served as executive director of manufacturing engineering, as plant manager at several U.S. facilities, and in several leadership positions at Isuzu Motors in Japan.
Gary Cowger, group vice president, global manufacturing and labor relations, will retire at the end of the year. Until then, at Henderson's request, Cowger will assume responsibility for the integration of Delphi facilities being acquired by GM and for the preparation and launch of a new battery assembly facility, details of which will be announced in the near future. Cowger, 62, joined GM as a co-op student at the Kansas City, Kansas plant, and served in various manufacturing and leadership roles in the U.S., Mexico and Europe, including chairman and managing director of Adam Opel AG and president and managing director of GM de Mexico. Prior to his current assignment, Cowger was president of GM North America.
Terry Kline, currently process information officer, product development, will be named vice president, information systems and services, and chief information officer. Kline, 47, joined GM in 2001 from New Venture Gear, where he was vice president and chief information officer. He has also served as executive director, global product development for information systems and services, and as interim chief information officer for GM Asia Pacific.
Ralph Szygenda, group vice president and chief information officer, will be retiring effective October 1. Szygenda, 60, joined GM in 1996 as vice president and chief information officer from Bell Atlantic, where he was vice president and chief information officer. Prior to that, Szygenda held a number of positions at Texas Instruments, including vice president for information systems and services and chief information officer. He also served as vice president and general manager of TI's Enterprise Systems Business Unit.
Troy Clarke, group vice president and president, GM North America, will retire effective October 1. Clarke, 54, joined GM in 1973 as a co-op student at Pontiac Motor Division, and has served in a number of leadership positions at GM, including group vice president and president of GM Asia Pacific, group vice president of manufacturing and labor relations, and president and managing director of GM de Mexico. Henderson will assume responsibilities for GM's North American operations.
Maureen Kempston Darkes, group vice president, GM Latin America, Africa and Middle-East, will retire at the end of this year. Kempston Darkes, 60, previously served as president and general manager of GM Canada. She also held a number of legal and finance positions in both the U.S. and Canada, including general counsel and secretary, and vice president for corporate affairs, both for GM Canada. Oversight of the countries in GM's LAAM region will move to the GM International Operations, based in Shanghai.
Michael Grimaldi, GM Vice President and CEO GM Daewoo, will retire effective October 1. Grimaldi, 57, previously served as president and general manager of GM Canada, general manager, Field Sales, Service and Parts - North America VSSM and Vehicle Line Executive for Full Size Trucks. He also held a number of finance and planning positions. A replacement for Grimaldi will be announced by International Operations.
Sales and Marketing Appointments
In the GM Sales and Marketing organizations, the following appointments have been announced:
As previously confirmed, Mark LaNeve, has been named vice president, U.S. sales, reporting to Henderson.
Brent Dewar, 54, currently GME vice president, sales, marketing, and aftersales, will become vice president, global Chevrolet brand. He will be responsible for the Chevrolet brand in North America and Chevrolet brand coordination on a global basis.
Susan Docherty, 46, currently North America vice president, Buick-GMC channel, will be named general manager, Buick-GMC brands.
Bryan Nesbitt, 40, currently North America vice president, design, will become general manager, Cadillac brand.
Jay Spenchian, 50, currently executive director, marketing strategy support group, will continue in his role.
Dewar, Docherty, Nesbitt, and Spenchian will report to Lutz, effective August 1.
Jim Bunnell, 54, currently executive director, sales support group, will be named general manager, sales operations.
Steve Hill, 49, currently general sales manager, premium channel, will be named general manager, retail sales support.
Kurt McNeil, 45, currently general sales manager, Chevrolet sales, will continue in this role.
Ed Peper, 47, currently GM North America vice president, Chevrolet channel, will be named general sales manager, Cadillac sales.
Brian Sweeney, 42, currently general sales manager, Buick-GMC sales, will continue in his role.
Bunnell, Hill, McNeil, Peper, and Sweeney will report to LaNeve, effective August 1.
Jonathan Browning, 50, currently GM Vice President, Global Sales, Service and Marketing, has elected to leave the company on October 1 to pursue other interests. He will not be replaced and his staff will be merged into the North America and GMIO operations.
"With these announcements, most of the new GM leadership team is in place," Henderson said.
"We expect to have the final round of announcements next week.
"I'd like to congratulate the leaders who are assuming new positions, and personally thank Jonathan Browning, Troy Clarke, Gary Cowger, Michael Grimaldi, Maureen Kempston Darkes and Ralph Szygenda for their leadership during an extraordinary period for GM. Their years of dedicated work have helped create the foundation for a new GM, and we wish them the best as they move into the next chapters of their lives."
Tom Wilkinson
GM News Relations
313-667-0366 (office)
313-378-6233 (mobile)
tom.wilkinson@gm.com
Tom Pyden
GM Sales and Marketing Communications
313-665-3123 (office)
313-378-4103 (mobile)
thomas.j.pyden@gm.com
General Motors Forms Executive Committee, Announces Leadership Appointments and Retirements
DETROIT - General Motors Company today announced the formation of the executive committee that will lead the new GM, as well as a number of leadership appointments and retirements.
New Executive Committee
On July 10, Fritz Henderson, GM president and CEO, announced that GM would speed day-to-day decision making by replacing two senior leadership forums, the Automotive Strategy Board and Automotive Product Board, with a single, smaller executive committee. Led by Henderson, the executive committee membership will include:
- Bob Lutz, vice chairman, marketing and communications;
- Tom Stephens, vice chairman, global product development;
- Nick Reilly, executive vice president, GM International Operations;
- Ray Young, executive vice president, chief financial officer;
- Tim Lee, group vice president, global manufacturing and labor relations;
- John Smith, group vice president, corporate planning and alliances, and secretary of the executive committee;
- Mark LaNeve, vice president, U.S. sales;
- Bob Socia, vice president, global purchasing and supply chain.
Tim Lee, currently GM North America vice president, manufacturing, will become a group vice president, responsible for global manufacturing and labor relations. Prior to his current assignment, Lee, 58, was GM Europe vice president of manufacturing. He has also served as executive director of manufacturing engineering, as plant manager at several U.S. facilities, and in several leadership positions at Isuzu Motors in Japan.
Gary Cowger, group vice president, global manufacturing and labor relations, will retire at the end of the year. Until then, at Henderson's request, Cowger will assume responsibility for the integration of Delphi facilities being acquired by GM and for the preparation and launch of a new battery assembly facility, details of which will be announced in the near future. Cowger, 62, joined GM as a co-op student at the Kansas City, Kansas plant, and served in various manufacturing and leadership roles in the U.S., Mexico and Europe, including chairman and managing director of Adam Opel AG and president and managing director of GM de Mexico. Prior to his current assignment, Cowger was president of GM North America.
Terry Kline, currently process information officer, product development, will be named vice president, information systems and services, and chief information officer. Kline, 47, joined GM in 2001 from New Venture Gear, where he was vice president and chief information officer. He has also served as executive director, global product development for information systems and services, and as interim chief information officer for GM Asia Pacific.
Ralph Szygenda, group vice president and chief information officer, will be retiring effective October 1. Szygenda, 60, joined GM in 1996 as vice president and chief information officer from Bell Atlantic, where he was vice president and chief information officer. Prior to that, Szygenda held a number of positions at Texas Instruments, including vice president for information systems and services and chief information officer. He also served as vice president and general manager of TI's Enterprise Systems Business Unit.
Troy Clarke, group vice president and president, GM North America, will retire effective October 1. Clarke, 54, joined GM in 1973 as a co-op student at Pontiac Motor Division, and has served in a number of leadership positions at GM, including group vice president and president of GM Asia Pacific, group vice president of manufacturing and labor relations, and president and managing director of GM de Mexico. Henderson will assume responsibilities for GM's North American operations.
Maureen Kempston Darkes, group vice president, GM Latin America, Africa and Middle-East, will retire at the end of this year. Kempston Darkes, 60, previously served as president and general manager of GM Canada. She also held a number of legal and finance positions in both the U.S. and Canada, including general counsel and secretary, and vice president for corporate affairs, both for GM Canada. Oversight of the countries in GM's LAAM region will move to the GM International Operations, based in Shanghai.
Michael Grimaldi, GM Vice President and CEO GM Daewoo, will retire effective October 1. Grimaldi, 57, previously served as president and general manager of GM Canada, general manager, Field Sales, Service and Parts - North America VSSM and Vehicle Line Executive for Full Size Trucks. He also held a number of finance and planning positions. A replacement for Grimaldi will be announced by International Operations.
Sales and Marketing Appointments
In the GM Sales and Marketing organizations, the following appointments have been announced:
As previously confirmed, Mark LaNeve, has been named vice president, U.S. sales, reporting to Henderson.
Brent Dewar, 54, currently GME vice president, sales, marketing, and aftersales, will become vice president, global Chevrolet brand. He will be responsible for the Chevrolet brand in North America and Chevrolet brand coordination on a global basis.
Susan Docherty, 46, currently North America vice president, Buick-GMC channel, will be named general manager, Buick-GMC brands.
Bryan Nesbitt, 40, currently North America vice president, design, will become general manager, Cadillac brand.
Jay Spenchian, 50, currently executive director, marketing strategy support group, will continue in his role.
Dewar, Docherty, Nesbitt, and Spenchian will report to Lutz, effective August 1.
Jim Bunnell, 54, currently executive director, sales support group, will be named general manager, sales operations.
Steve Hill, 49, currently general sales manager, premium channel, will be named general manager, retail sales support.
Kurt McNeil, 45, currently general sales manager, Chevrolet sales, will continue in this role.
Ed Peper, 47, currently GM North America vice president, Chevrolet channel, will be named general sales manager, Cadillac sales.
Brian Sweeney, 42, currently general sales manager, Buick-GMC sales, will continue in his role.
Bunnell, Hill, McNeil, Peper, and Sweeney will report to LaNeve, effective August 1.
Jonathan Browning, 50, currently GM Vice President, Global Sales, Service and Marketing, has elected to leave the company on October 1 to pursue other interests. He will not be replaced and his staff will be merged into the North America and GMIO operations.
"With these announcements, most of the new GM leadership team is in place," Henderson said.
"We expect to have the final round of announcements next week.
"I'd like to congratulate the leaders who are assuming new positions, and personally thank Jonathan Browning, Troy Clarke, Gary Cowger, Michael Grimaldi, Maureen Kempston Darkes and Ralph Szygenda for their leadership during an extraordinary period for GM. Their years of dedicated work have helped create the foundation for a new GM, and we wish them the best as they move into the next chapters of their lives."
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About General Motors: General Motors Company, one of the world's largest automakers, traces its roots back to 1908. With its global headquarters in Detroit, GM employs 235,000 people in every major region of the world and does business in some 140 countries. GM and its strategic partners produce cars and trucks in 34 countries, and sell and service these vehicles through the following brands: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, GM Daewoo, Holden, Opel, Vauxhall and Wuling. GM's largest national market is the United States, followed by China, Brazil, the United Kingdom, Canada, Russia and Germany. GM's OnStar subsidiary is the industry leader in vehicle safety, security and information services. General Motors Company acquired operations from General Motors Corporation on July 10, 2009, and references to prior periods in this and other press materials refer to operations of the old General Motors Corporation. More information on the new General Motors Company can be found at www.gm.com.# # #
CONTACT(S): Tom Wilkinson
GM News Relations
313-667-0366 (office)
313-378-6233 (mobile)
tom.wilkinson@gm.com
Tom Pyden
GM Sales and Marketing Communications
313-665-3123 (office)
313-378-4103 (mobile)
thomas.j.pyden@gm.com
