General Motors has announced that Dan
Akerson, who guided GM to record profits and dramatic improvement in vehicle
quality while closing the chapter on government ownership in the company, will
step down as chairman and CEO on Jan. 15, 2014. Mary Barra, 51, executive vice
president, Global Product Development, Purchasing and Supply Chain, was elected
by the Board of Directors to become the next CEO of the company. Barra
will also join the GM Board.
The Board also named Theodore (Tim) Solso
to succeed Akerson as Chairman. Solso, 66, is the former chairman and CEO
of Cummins, Inc., and has been a member of the GM Board since June 2012.
“I will leave with great satisfaction in what we
have accomplished, great optimism over what is ahead and great pride that we
are restoring General Motors as America’s standard bearer in the global auto
industry,” Akerson said in a message to employees.
With 33 years of experience at GM, Barra
has risen through a series of manufacturing, engineering, and senior staff
positions. She is a leader in the company’s ongoing turnaround, revitalising
GM’s product development process resulting in the launch of critically
acclaimed new products while delivering record product quality ratings and
higher customer satisfaction.
“With an amazing portfolio of cars and
trucks and the strongest financial performance in our recent history, this is
an exciting time at today’s GM,” said Barra. “I’m honored to lead the best team
in the business and to keep our momentum at full speed.”