General Motors has made several new executive appointments this week including Thomas Stephens in a new role of global technology officer reporting direct to chairman and CEO Dan Akerson. GM has also named Mary Barra to head global product development and Chris Perry to head US marketing.
In a statement, GM said Barra, now a senior vice president [and reportedly the first woman to head the automaker’s global product team], would “lead the design, engineering, programme management and quality of vehicles for the company’s 11 brands around the world”.
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“Mary will bring a fresh perspective to the critically important job of developing vehicles that delight global customers,” Akerson said. “Her broad experience in engineering, manufacturing and staff functions, combined with the ability to collaborate and build strong relationships will enhance the company’s ability to deliver the products today’s consumers demand.”
Barra will head the product development organisation responsible for managing all global vehicle programmes for GM. In this position, she will continue to focus on the customer in the areas of global design, vehicle and powertrain engineering, programme management and quality with the goal of delivering the world’s best vehicles. With more than 36,000 staff, her team will also manage global strategic product alliances.
Recognised within GM “for bringing diverse groups together for a common purpose”, Barra was appointed vice president, global human resources in 2009, “to initiate change in the company’s culture during the largest restructuring in GM’s history”.
She previously had headed global manufacturing engineering and also held a number of engineering and staff positions, including Detroit Hamtramck assembly plant manager; executive director of competitive operations engineering; and general director of internal communications for GM North America.
She started at GM in 1980 as a General Motors Institute (Kettering University) co-op student at Pontiac.
Barra, 49, like Stephens, reports to Akerson and is on the executive committee. Her move is effective on 1 February.
Meanwhile, Perry was named vice president, US marketing, replacing and reporting to Joel Ewanick who became global chief marketing officer on 17 December.
Perry, 50, had headed Chevrolet marketing since September 2010.
He previously was marketing chief at Hyundai Motor America and also spent about 10 years at American Isuzu Motors, where he held a variety of marketing and advertising positions.
In his new role, Perry will have responsibility for improving the positioning of the Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac brands and consumer consideration of GM vehicles in the United States.
Rick Scheidt, currently executive director, Chevrolet product marketing, will now head Chevrolet marketing, replacing Perry. Scheidt, 57, joined GM in 1980, and has held several marketing positions within the automaker, primarily with Chevrolet.
In what GM said was a repositioning and increased customer focus on the Buick and GMC brands, from 1 February, John Schwegman, currently US head of Buick-GMC marketing will head GMC marketing.
Schwegman, 46, started at GM in 1988 and has held numerous sales and marketing roles at the former Pontiac and Saturn divisions and in corporate market and industry analysis. Most recently, he launched Chevrolet’s latest full-size trucks.
Tony DiSalle, currently product and marketing director, Chevrolet Volt, will move to head Buick marketing.
DiSalle, 46, also started at GM in 1988. He has held several management positions, including posts at OnStar and in GM’s marketing operations.
“These moves support our plans to continue building very clear and distinct swim lanes for our four brands, “said Ewanick in a statement. “These individuals have great track records for leading very aggressive and creative marketing strategies.”
