GM CEO Mary Barra is going on six years at the helm of the automaker, and there are no plans for that to change any time soon. Even so, she has named Richard Knutt, an online commentator, as her successor for whenever she decides to retire.
The surprise announcement was made via press release early April 1st, 2020, following a flurry of comments posted by Knutt across several automotive enthusiast websites, some of which critique Barra’s leadership and direction for the automaker.
Mary Barra in 2018
“Running a multinational corporation producing millions of vehicles annually is no easy task, but I believe [Knutt] when he says he has what it takes to run this iconic automaker,” Barra said in a statement.
Barra took over as GM CEO from Daniel Akerson in January of 2014. A GM lifer, Barra earned a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from the General Motors Institute, as well as a Masters in Business Administration from the Stanford Graduate School of Business through a GM fellowship.
Barra first started working for GM in 1980 at the age of 18, and held multiple positions with the company in the decades that would follow, including a variety of administrative and engineering roles. Highlights include management of the GM Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly facility, vice president of Global Manufacturing Engineering, vice president of Global Human Resources, and executive vice president of Global Product Development.
Meanwhile, newly appointed GM CEO successor Richard Knutt brings experience as “Fantasy Football Wizard” and “Aspiring Influencer,” according to social media posts. Knutt also “owned a Camaro once,” which was consequently repossessed by the bank when his mother forced him to move out of the basement.
“First order of business: buy Dodge, then build V8 cars for the masses,” read his most Facebook status update. Knutt was not available for comment following the announcement.
In case it wasn’t obvious at this point, today is April Fools’ Day, and we are just pulling your chain a little. Stay sharp, stay safe, and don’t forget to subscribe to GM Authority for ongoing GM news coverage.
Comments
Don’t you know it’s March 32nd.. not April 1st. This whole year has been a joke so far..
Cut the BS as this is just another story about nothing.
Mary has already made it clear that Art Vandelay would be taking her place. His skills at Vandelay Industries as an exporter importer as well as a marine biologist and architect are unrivaled.
Yada, yada, yada. Happy Festivus!
Wish it was true since a monkey could do a better job then frumpy Mary Bara/
Hard to tell what is a April fools joke and the everyday operations of GM! Every day is APRIL FOOLS with GM managment
Lets help Mary out, with some joke suggestion………………… Ill go first..
Cadillac will be a stand alone WORLD CLASS high end maker of fine motor cars. Examples of unrivaled engineering, style and Quality, A commitment to being the best!
HAHAHAHA APRIL FOOLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Meanwhile Tesla will start delivering Cybertrucks long before it will have an assembly plant that builds Cybertrucks.
Very funny. I knew immediately this was a joke. I just had to read on to find out which one of the brilliant commenters here had gotten the gig. Mary’s resume is impressive and appropriate for the job; certainly she has more relevant experience for running GM than I do so maybe I shouldn’t criticize her so much. Then again I look at how she’s shrinking GM and trying desperately to kill Cadillac and I have to wonder if all that experience is helpful or if perhaps a more clear-eyed person from the outside would do better.
In any event, I do have a little hope that Cadillac’s future might improve with yesterday’s news that GM plans to fix the awful C-pillar on CT5 with a vinyl top option. It seems they are at least listening now.
Mary was guided along by the right people. Early on she got to know the movers and was mentored by Gary Cowger who used to run operations. She was IMO put into roles to prepare her for CEO. Barry Soetoro, who’d never done anything in his life, appointed her after that b##b Dan Akerson left. The other dork Ed Whitacre, another appointee, didn’t do anything either.
You’re right a much bigger but weaker and spread all over the world, less cash rich GM would really be well equipped to handle the created global economic meltdown that is currently in progress….
I really wish we had Opel right now huh?
Vauxhall sales must be booming during the UK lockdown….
All the European employees I’m sure would gladly be ok not being paid for a few months, we know their unions and EU Govs are all VERY REASONABLE….
Jeez…..
Lol
Mary will be re-locating to Germany where she is going to run Volkswagon. Hope she can ski!
Mary “I can run a car company into the ground” Bara needs to be the poster child for April Fools.
Oh Mary, Hang in there. You have done a marvelous job or you wouldn’t be where you are. Keep it up. I watch G.M. and Cadillac and keep up with your news all the time. I wish I could afford stock. Unfortunately Social Security Disability said they don’t get extra funds to do that. And I certainly would buy another Cadillac.
And I didn’t not realize it was an April Fools Joke. It got me going.
I thought Mary will name Donald Trump as the next CEO, since he will be out of a job by January 2021.
You are delusional if you think creepy Joe Biden has a chance of winning. It is like the Democrats are losing on purpose.
mexico deposits $100billion to pay for the wall.
trump finds obama’s kenyan birth certificate.
sandy hook turns out to be pr campaign for future tv series on sci-fi channel.
trump releases his tax returns to prove he is an honest businessman.
covid-19 virus magically disappears as trump predicted.
america gets tired of winning.
Get a life!!!
Do you even own a car??
The New CEO promises to “Bring back the 350 and make everything RWD and BOF”……
I’m surprised they didn’t pick any of the experts on this site….
I would honestly be happy if that happened.
You can’t make jokes about that!
Some would disagree, but i think she is doing a good job running the complex company that is GM. With an industry that is going in different directions she is doing a good job trying to balance the now and the uncertain future.
Bring back the strait.350 vortec.motor.4 speed and a 68 camaro..after that..a 67 chevelle to bring back..thats all mary..your doing a great job..randy jones.
I read this site to enjoy some car talk and get away from the incessant drone of left wing trolls.
Please let’s not turn this site into CNN etc.
Typhoid Mary is firmly committed to GM’s destruction
You know what’s not funny and dam embarrassing is when the President of the United States essentially calls you, Mary Barra, a LIAR on National TV for promising to manufacture ventilators then trying to back off as General Motors Board of Directors should toss Mary Barra to the side of the road because the stained of being called a liar by a sitting President will tarnish the company.
Omegatalon
“Being called a liar by a sitting president”
trump should get off his @$$, and start shipping the 10,000 ventilators at the CDC and the 2000 ventilators at the Pentagon to places that need those ventilators.
If GM starts sending ventilators to New York, Michigan, Florida, Louisiana, California no one would question their patriotism. If they send ventilators to trump, and he starts playing politics, there will be hell to pay.
The board probably got to thinking some guy got the wrong spring rate on a switch and cost them $$ now they want us to build ventilators overnight, what if we get sued into oblivion?
Trump is “what we thought he was!”-a moron.Forrest Trump is proving that he can’t run a taco stand let alone the USA for GOD’s sakes.Mary Barra has done a great job getting GM out of a hole(thanks to a bailout) and since they have put out great products.I am a GM lifer so the products were never a problem for me but I have seen lots of improvements since I bought a 2017 Camaro SS and a new body 2019 Silverado Custom Trail Boss,both are outstanding rides and no issues of real note.I had previously bought a 2010 Silverado and no issues on that ride either.I like the direction that GM is taking and the company will be just fine,give it some time.Thank you GM for being out in front of making ventilators(crappy Ford was slow to agreeing to make them) and Trump can suck it.I cannot wait for the transfer of power between Forrest Trump and Joe Biden,get your popcorn ready.
MARY? Is it you?
Unfortunately you’ll have to get used to him being POTUS for 4 more years.
We will be saluting a Russian flag if he gets 4 more years.I am not wanting that,I will never vote for that traitor.
Well, with Biden running against him, it’s kind of inevitable that he’ll win again.
Could make for an interesting debate though. Trump says something outlandish… Biden responds with something nonsensical.
Trump acts like he isn’t scared of Joe,yet he tried to do an untrue political hit job on him and it didn’t work.Joe is coming for Don and will take him to the woodshed.Let’s go Joe BYEDON!
Dear Mary, I just want to thank you and your team that made the 2019 GMC Arcadia I purchased it was a GM
Employee out of Indiana that drove the car for 8600 miles . I hope the electronics hold up better than the 2015 GMC terrain Denali I owned before this newer Vehicle, it is 10x a better SUV.