Mary Barra Takes over General Motors

By admin December 11, 2013 14:38

General Motors on Tuesday announced that 33-year company veteran Mary Barra will replace Dan Akerman as CEO starting on Jan 15.

Barra, a 51-year-old engineer who is currently executive vice president of global product development, purchasing and supply chain, will be the first woman to lead a major automaker.

“I’m honored to lead the best team in the business and to keep our momentum at full speed,” she said in a statement.

GM said that the 65-year-old Akerson, who is both chairman and CEO, decided to move up his retirement after his wife was diagnosed with advanced cancer.

The company designated board member Theodore (Tim) Solso to succeed Akerson as chairman.

The announcement comes a day after the U.S. government sold all of its remaining shares in GM, which brings to an end a phase in the history of the largest U.S. carmaker that began in 2009 with the injection of $50 billion in public funding.