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GM to Speed Global Product Development


March 2005
 Filed under: GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATE Car News | GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATE Headlines

Leadership Responsibilities Realigned, Expanded to Focus on Continued Growth

March 1, 2005 -- DETROIT – General Motors Corp. today announced significant organizational and leadership changes designed to enhance and accelerate GM's global product development.
Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner announced the changes, which took effect today.

“GM's future success in the global automotive marketplace will depend heavily on our ability to fully leverage our broad and deep resources, especially in the critical area of product development,” Wagoner said. “In support of that, we are realigning and expanding some key executive responsibilities to allow us to continue to capitalize on the significant growth opportunities that we see around the world.

“These changes will accelerate our efforts to get more great cars and trucks to market faster, to provide more value to our customers and to increase our global sales.”

Wagoner announced the following leadership moves:

(Note to editors: Leadership biographies can be obtained by clicking on the name of the leader.)

John Smith is named to the new position of group vice president of global product planning. Smith has been group vice president of GM North America Vehicle Sales, Service and Marketing. He will be responsible for the global product portfolio plan and advanced vehicle development activities, and report to Bob Lutz, vice chairman of global product development, and chairman of GMNA.

Jim Queen is named to the new position of GM vice president of global engineering. Queen, who has been GM vice president of GMNA engineering, will be responsible for the accelerated globalization of GM's engineering organization. He will continue to report to Lutz.

Ed Welburn is named to the new position of GM vice president of global design and will be responsible for the leadership and global integration of all product design initiatives. Welburn's previous title was GMNA vice president of design. He will retain responsibility for North America design, and will continue to report to Lutz.

Mark LaNeve succeeds Smith as GMNA vice president of vehicle sales, service and marketing. LaNeve will report to GMNA President Gary Cowger. LaNeve has been GMNA vice president of marketing and advertising.

Brent Dewar succeeds LaNeve as GMNA vice president of marketing and advertising and will report to LaNeve. Dewar has been divisional marketing general manager of Chevrolet; his replacement will be announced later.

Larry Burns' title changes to GM vice president of research & development and strategic planning. This reflects Burns' increased focus on GM's global R&D initiatives, including fuel cell activities. He continues to report to Wagoner.

Bo Andersson, whose title changes to GM vice president of global purchasing and supply chain, will increase his focus on global purchasing and supplier activities while supporting Queen in the globalization of GM's engineering organization. In a related move, James Bovenzi becomes GMNA vice president of purchasing. Bovenzi has been executive director of program purchasing management. He will report jointly to Andersson and Cowger.

Ed Koerner succeeds Queen as GMNA vice president of engineering. Koerner has been GM Powertrain vice president of engineering operations. He will report to Queen and Cowger. Daniel Hancock will replace Koerner at GM Powertrain and report to Tom Stephens, group vice president of GM Powertrain. Hancock has been CEO of the Fiat-GM Powertrain joint venture in Turin, Italy.

Greg Deveson becomes CEO of the Fiat-GM Powertrain joint venture through its pending dissolution. He has been vice president of manufacturing for the JV.

General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM), the world's largest automaker, has been the global industry sales leader since 1931. Founded in 1908, GM today employs about 324,000 people around the world. It has manufacturing operations in 32 countries and its vehicles are sold in 200 countries. In 2004, GM sold nearly 9 million cars and trucks globally, up 4 percent and the second-highest total in the company's history. GM's global headquarters are at the GM Renaissance Center in Detroit. More information on GM can be found at www.gm.com.

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