Last Friday, General Motors announced its vice president of global manufacturing, Alicia Boler-Davis, would leave the automaker to pursue other opportunities. Now, we know where she’s likely headed.
The Wall Street Journal reported the same day that the longtime GM employee will begin work with Amazon. Boler-Davis is expected to leave her current position at GM come April 1. Gerald Johnson was named as her successor.
As GM’s vice president of global manufacturing, Amazon likely saw Boler-Davis as a valuable individual with a variety of experience to help the online retailer further automate its facilities. Amazon has also recently taken to invest in two automotive-related firms: Rivian and Aurora Innovations. Rivian is the electric-car startup that plans to begin producing its electric vehicles in the U.S. in 2020. Aurora Innovations continues to work on self-driving car technology and holds numerous partnerships with automakers such as the VW Group and Hyundai Motor.
Boler-Davis would also bring valuable expertise on how to manufacturer automobiles to Amazon, though there’s no indication right now that the online retailer and tech giant plans to expand into such a field. As Apple previously found out, building a car is not easy work; the company recently laid off 100-plus workers from its own self-driving car project.
Johnson will take over all of Boler-Davis’ responsibilities, including global manufacturing options, manufacturing engineering, and labor relations organizations. He will report directly to GM CEO Mary Barra and join the automaker’s senior leadership team. Although Boler-Davis will leave her position with the company, there is no indication she will vacate her seat on the automaker’s board of directors, which she was added to in 2016.
Comments
How is it possible she would stay on the board? Seems like clear conflict of interest with both gm and Amazon either courting or competing against rivian.
After 25 years at the same company, new challenges are always welcome and it’s obvious Amazon is not through on growth plans. It’s an indication that Amazon wants to enter the transportation industry and investing in Rivian they need someone to guide the ship. Couldn’t be more happy for Alicia.