GM Employment | GM Authority

The Job Is Done: Bob Lutz To Retire May 1
by Alex Luft
Posted March 6th, 2010 at 11:43 pm

After a decorated 47-year career in the automotive industry, General Motors Vice Chairman Bob Lutz will retire effective May 1, 2010. Maximum Bob’s contributions to the trade are far too great to be named in a single article, but most recently the legendary exec spearheaded the return of the 5th gen Camaro, the development of the Chevrolet Volt, and – of course – led GM though its product-based reincarnation.

Lutz’s decision to retire came in part because of the success of GM’s newest and best-selling vehicles such as the Buick LaCrosse, Cadillac SRX, GMC Terrain, Chevrolet Equinox, and Chevrolet Camaro. The super-star executive and uber car guy is also very satisfied with GM’s transformation into a company with a product-focused culture, one that Lutz believes to be in place for the long term.

I can confidently say that the job I came here to do more than nine years ago is now complete – the team I have been fortunate to lead has far exceeded my expectations. Our product lineup is as strong as it has been in GM’s history. The perception of our products and brands is beginning to catch up with reality. And most importantly, the absolute commitment to being a product-driven company is ingrained throughout the organization – from the top down – and I am confident that, under Ed Whitacre’s leadership, the straightforward, singular focus on product will endure.

Lutz was appointed senior advisor to newly-appointed CEO and Chairman Ed Whitacre in December 2009. He will continue to provide guidance on design and key product initiatives until he retires May 1. Whitacre had the following to say about Lutz’ forthcoming departure:

The influence Bob Lutz has had on GM’s commitment to design, build and sell the world’s best vehicles will last for years to come. I, along with many other men and women in GM and throughout the industry, have greatly benefited from his passion, wisdom and guidance.

Lutz, 78, rejoined GM September 1, 2001 as the head of product development after having held positions at BMW, Chrysler, and Ford

The GM Authority Take

We image Bob will finally be able to fully enjoy his impressive collection of toys, including cars, planes, and suits. And Bob, you’re still welcome on the GM Authority podcast any time.

GM’s full press release after the jump! (more…)

1 Comments Continue Reading
Talent Drain: GM Director Of Global Battery Systems Leaves Today – Goodbye Denise Gray
by Alex Luft
Posted March 5th, 2010 at 1:04 pm

Denise Gray, Director of global battery systems engineering and 30 year GM veteran, has announced that she will leave The General for a battery startup in California.

Since 2006, Gray oversaw the testing and development of batteries going into plug-in and non plug-in versions of GM hybrids and extended-range electric vehicles (EV). She also worked with battery suppliers in examining how new cell technologies could potentially be used in future production vehicles. It was on Gray’s watch that GM produced its first lithium-ion battery pack for the Chevrolet Volt. Most recently, Gray was the strategic lead for battery development on the Volt.

Gray said that she could not disclose the name of the startup company, but did say that it is in California and that it is still running in stealth mode, so this rules out Better Place and Tesla Motors. She said that she was looking forward to building the start-up’s operation from the ground-up which is in stark contrast to her position at GM – where she focused on a single segment of a massive business. Gray’s last day at GM is today – Friday, March 5, 2010. Click past the break to read more and get the full GM Authority Take!

(more…)

0 Comments Continue Reading
GM Announces Major Organizational Changes To North American Operations (With Org Chart)
by Alex Luft
Posted March 3rd, 2010 at 3:49 pm

As expected, GM announced a restructured North American organization with a flurry of key leadership changes across core North American brands, including Chevrolet, Cadillac, and Buick-GMC.

GM North America (GMNA) is moving away from a combined sales and marketing organization to one that “enables the company to engage experts in each respective role.” That’s code for matching more qualified personnel with jobs that require more expertise. GM is adopting a flatter structure where accountability is key.

In a press release, GM North America President Mark Reuss said:

It’s become extremely clear to me since taking this role that there is a better way to structure this organization. The premise of the structure is simple — a clearer marketing focus to sell more vehicles, and freeing our sales and service experts to focus on customers and dealers.

That’s an indirect reference to Susan Docherty, who has been relieved of sales and support responsibilities, but remains in charge of marketing. All changes are effective immediately. Reuss went on to say that:

In order to be successful in North America, we need the right mix of product, people and structure. We’ve worked with a small group of executives to align this model and appoint the best candidates for each job.

GM is placing great emphasis on its hope that these changes will lead to an increased focus on the customer, as it places responsibility directly on the executives in charge. We’ve been hearing reports for some time that CEO Ed Whitacre is a big proponent of placing increased responsibility on more employees.

Click past the break to see the revised organization structure. (more…)

2 Comments Continue Reading
Rumormill: GM To Reorganize Sales And Marketing Positions
by Alex Luft
Posted March 1st, 2010 at 11:53 am

The rumormill is at it again, this time – however – the topic revolves around GM’s organizational structure. Automotive News reports that GM will shake up its sales and marketing management in the U.S. as early as this week.

The Changes

For starters, Susan Docherty, vice president of sales, support, and marketing, will transfer her sales responsibilities to GM North America President Mark Reuss.

Moreover, GM will shake up its organizational structure of its four core brands by separating sales and marketing functions. In other words, Chevrolet, Cadillac, and Buick-GMC will each have a marketing leader that will report to Docherty, as well as a sales boss that will report to Reuss. Currently, the division heads are in charge of both functions.

The Stem

The reorganization stems from CEO Ed Whitacre’s desire to drastically increase sales. Whitacre is also said to be impatient in making sure consumers appreciate the high quality of General Motors vehicles (link).

When Whitacre was appointed interim CEO of The General back in December 2009, he said that Sales and Marketing teams would need to show results quickly. This overhaul appears to be in response to this goal. Since then, Whitacre has become permanent CEO of General Motors.

GM is said to have not yet finalized the divisional marketing and sales assignments. Cadillac chief Bryan Nesbitt was appointed to his position in August 2009 while Chevrolet’s Jim Campbell and Buick-GMC’s Brian Sweeney assumed their positions in December. GM spokesperson Jason Lair declined to comment on the changes. Click past the break for the vaunted GM Authority take.

[Source: Automotive News] (more…)

1 Comments Continue Reading
Report: The General Is Waiting In The Lobby
by Erik Bentley
Posted February 23rd, 2010 at 10:59 pm

Lee Godown on Twitter

As if GM’s corporate image wasn’t bad enough already, they go and do something that is sure to stir up a political rip-tide. If you recall, GM disposed (in a humane way of course) most, if not all of their lobbyists following the Fed’s bailout. Now it seems as though they’re settling comfortably right back into their old ways. How so?

GM hired yet another lobbyist which the American taxpayer will have to financially absorb. His name you ask? Why, it’s none other than Lee Godown from Public Strategies, Inc.

When asked what exactly he planned to lobby for, his response was the following

Issues relating to restructuring; funding for technology, science and energy initiatives; taxation relating to employee benefits, alternative minimum tax and alternative simplified credit; and border trade, competitiveness and market access.

If my memory serves me correctly, back in 2000 Lee Godown was Rep. Loretta Sanchez’s Chief of Staff until he left the position in 2007 to pursue other ventures. We will see how he does under GM’s thumb, along with GM’s other newly-hired lobbyists from ATT.

[Source: Washington Examiner]

0 Comments Continue Reading
Henderson Returns Amidst Further Push For Change
by Wilson Nunnari
Posted February 22nd, 2010 at 8:40 pm

After a move that strongly resembles that of Bob Lutz (who unretired himself earlier in 2009), ex-GM CEO Fritz Henderson is back at The General. Call it the rise of the dead.

After being ousted stepping down as CEO at the beginning of December, Fritz did not receive severance. To compensate for this, General Motors is taking advantage of Fritz’s vast knowledge of international operations, a subject that’s rather important now that GM has decided to retain Opel and Vauxhall.

Henderson will be paid $59,090 per month for approximately 20 hours of work (also per month). This contract will run through the end of 2010. (more…)

2 Comments Continue Reading
Bob Lutz Expresses Woes Of GM Executives
by Wilson Nunnari
Posted February 19th, 2010 at 3:55 pm

Speaking at the annual National Automobiles Dealers Association (NADA), Bob Lutz declared his belief that the top 25 executives at General Motors are underpaid. Because GM is one of the companies that received billions in federal bailout money, Treasury officials are reviewing the company’s executive pay packages. It is probably not a coincidence then that Lutz chose this time to make his remarks regarding the matter of executive pay.

While Lutz does think that the 25 executives at GM deserve more compensation because of “the rigors of the job and demands and the accountability,” it is important to note that his exact quote says that the executives “are being paid way, way, way below market.” The distinction here is that Lutz is pointing out that they are being paid below market and not simply that they are underpaid. He even acknowledges that a company such as GM, which has recently emerged from chapter 11 bankrupcty, can not expect to have the same levels of executive compensation as similar companies that have not been through the grim process. (more…)

0 Comments Continue Reading
Vauxhall Cuts at Luton Van Manufacturing Plant Seen as Comparatively Positive for the UK
by Conor Cameron
Posted February 17th, 2010 at 3:40 pm

Vauxhall Motors, the Colonel leading The General’s British invasion, is set to cut jobs at its commercial van manufacturing plant in Luton. With a population of 230,000, the Bedfordshire county locale is 32 miles north of London. Reports conflict on the precise number of jobs on the chopping block, but the best estimates suggest that 154 administrative, sales and marketing positions and 354 manufacturing positions would be cut. The manufacturing loss was announced last November, but the number continues to be adjusted. Vauxhall currently employs 1,458 people in Luton, and hopes to pare down its workforce there through voluntary means.

These cuts come amid the British marque’s own restructuring plan, made possible by £500 million in loans from British banks, all of which the government has agreed to underwrite. That money comes in addition to €2.7 billion in financial support from European governments, including the United Kingdom. Vauxhall chairman Bill Parfitt is currently negotiating the terms for the company, and the final plan is expected to be ready in a few weeks. (more…)

0 Comments Continue Reading
GM Empowers Employees To Market New Products
by Conor Cameron
Posted February 9th, 2010 at 9:00 am

In a massive shift of marketing policy, General Motors is allowing hourly or salaried employees of its Renaissance Center to take vehicles home with them either for a weekend or several weekdays. Formerly, only management level employees were allowed to walk out with any product more costly than a key chain. Thus far, approximately 500 such employees have taken advantage of the initiative.

Awkwardly donned, “The Company Vehicle Ambassador Program,” there is nothing awkward about the underlying strategy. CVAP [our acronym] builds on employee test drive events GM began holding at various Michigan locations last summer. Focusing on newly introduced vehicles like the Equinox/Terrain, Traverse/Acadia/Enclave, LaCrosse, SRX and CTS SportWagon, the program represents a grassroots marketing opportunity for The General to improve its reputation. Employees can become more familiar with GM offerings have access to the vehicle itself, and associated marketing and sales materials. In a press release, GM expressed hope that the program could “provide a personal connection to GM.” (more…)

2 Comments Continue Reading
Whitacre To Leave GM In 2-3 Years, Next CEO To Come From Within
by Manoli Katakis
Posted February 3rd, 2010 at 1:00 am

Not to say that Mr. Whitacre is getting too old for his job, but he is looking to retire within the next two to three years. That makes for a fairly brief reign at the Ren Cen; not Fritz-Henderson-brief, but the news is rather surprising considering Big Ed was appointed permanent CEO by the board of directors just last week. After Whitacre’s departure, GM will look within the company to carry the baton that the will-be 71-year-old Texan is planning to hand off. Whitacre was named permanent CEO after GM’s quest to lure in another “outsider” turned up fruitless.

And don’t ask for the reason as to why the (elder) vice chairman Bob Lutz has no public plans of retirement – it is widely believed he is immortal.

[Source: Automotive News, sub. req.]

0 Comments Continue Reading

Page 1 of 3 1 2 3 »

The GM Authority Take

The Changes

The Stem