GM Promotes Baris Cetinok And Dave Richardson To Head Software And Services Organization

Earlier this year, GM Authority reported that former GM Software and Services Executive Vice President Mike Abbott stepped down due to personal health reasons. Now, the Detroit-based automaker appears to have found his replacements in Baris Cetinok and Dave Richardson.

Cetinok and Richardson joined General Motors in September 2023 and have been promoted to head the company’s Software and Services organization. During their time with The General, both individuals have played notable roles in developing vehicle operating and digital systems, enhancing quality testing and validation processes, and enabling software to become a central component of General Motors’ customer experience.

Baris Cetinok

“GM’s journey toward a tech-forward future is clearer than ever, thanks to the exceptional talent within our team and the leadership of Baris and Dave,” General Motors Chair and CEO Mary Barra remarked in a prepared statement. “They bring energy and vision, combined with extensive technical and management experience, that will continue to strengthen our software engineering and product teams. These elevated roles will ensure continuity, speed, and quality as software becomes even more central to the vehicle.”

For background on the two men, Cetinok has more than 25 years of experience in product, engineering, and design at noteworthy companies like Microsoft, Amazon, and Apple, while Richardson worked at Apple for 12 years as an engineering leader.

Dave Richardson

Cetinok will assume the position of Senior Vice President of Software and Services Product Management, Program Management, and Design and will oversee software roadmap designs and software program development, launch, and continual improvement. Meanwhile, Richardson will serve as Senior Vice President of Software and Services Engineering and will lead all software engineering areas like embedded platforms, digital products, commercial solutions, and advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS).

Moving forward, both will work in close collaboration with General Motors’ vehicle design and hardware engineering organizations and will be based at the new GM Mountain View Technical Center in Silicon Valley.

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