Shake-up for GM management

Things move pretty fast at 'the New GM'. Barely days after getting his feet under Fritz Henderson's desk, new Chairman and CEO Ed Whitacre (pictured) has shuffled the execs reporting to him.

In a media release late last week, GM advised that Whitacre had appointed Mark Reuss to the position of President for GM North America. Reuss, MD at Holden until very recently, only occupied his former engineering position for a matter of months. Vocationally, he's not so much on a fast track as on a rocket sled.

"I want to give people more responsibility and authority deeper in the organization and then hold them accountable," Whitacre explained, suggesting that Reuss's appointment is a test of his ability as much as a reward. 

'Godfather' of the Monaro-as-GTO and the Pontiac G8, Bob Lutz, continues in his role as Vice Chairman advising on design and global product development. Wonder whether he has some advice for Fritz Henderson about 're-badging' global product?

Susan Docherty is Vice President, Vehicle Sales, Service and Marketing Operations and will be reporting to Reuss. Her counterpart on the production side of the fence is Diana Tremblay, newly-appointed Vice President, Manufacturing and Labour Relations. Tremblay was formerly VP of Labour Relations, so her role has expanded and her former position is now occupied by Denise Johnson, previously Vehicle Line Director and Chief Engineer for Global Small Cars.

Nick Reilly, at one stage the head of GM in the Asia/Pacific region, has swiftly moved from there to head up Opel in the aftermath of Carl-Peter Forster's departure and now, has picked up the role of President, GM Europe.

Tim Lee, who left his job to Diana Tremblay, is now the President of GM International Operations and consequently takes on the overall responsibility for regions outside North America, including Asia/Pacific, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East.

Karl-Friedrich Stracke takes on the role of VP, Engineering and reports to Thomas Stephens, who adds global purchasing to his portfolio of Vice Chairman, Global Product Operations. Global Purchasing and Supply continues to be led Robert Socia, who reports to Stephens.

J. Christopher Preuss, Vice President, Communcations, now reports directly to Whitacre, rather than Bob Lutz as was the case previously. Other roles remain unchanged.

"We've realigned our leadership duties and responsibilities to help us meet our mission to design, build and sell the world's best vehicles," Whitacre was quoted as saying in the press release.

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