DETROIT, Feb. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- GM Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner today
announced that Robert A. Lutz, GM Vice Chairman - Global Product Development,
will transition to a new role effective April 1, 2009 as Vice Chairman and
Senior Advisor. Lutz, 76, will provide strategic input into GM's global
design and key product initiatives until his retirement at the end of 2009. He
will continue to report to Wagoner.
Wagoner also announced that effective April 1, 2009 the GM Board of
Directors elected Thomas G. Stephens, Vice Chairman - Global Product
Development, reporting to President and Chief Operating Officer Fritz
Henderson. Stephens, 60, is currently Executive Vice President, Global
Powertrain and Global Quality. In this new assignment, Stephens will maintain
his responsibility for overseeing GM's global quality activity.
Concurrent with this appointment, GM is restructuring its global
powertrain group to integrate powertrain functional activities into their
respective global GM functions. Accordingly, in his new role, Stephens will
have responsibility for global powertrain engineering, in addition to global
design, product engineering, product planning and program management.
Powertrain manufacturing will report to Gary Cowger, Group Vice President of
GM Global Manufacturing and Labor Relations. Other staffs that support the GM
Powertrain organization will be integrated into their respective global
functions. These moves represent another important step in GM's restructuring
initiative to create a leaner, more efficient organization.
"Bob Lutz was already a legendary automotive product guy when he rejoined
GM in 2001," Wagoner said, "and he's added to that by leading the creation of
a string of award-winning vehicles for GM during his time here. His 46 years
of experience in the global automotive business have been invaluable to us.
I've personally learned a great deal from Bob and have very much enjoyed the
time we've worked together," Wagoner added. "I'm looking forward to Bob's
continued contributions to GM for the remainder of 2009 - and I know the
impact of his efforts leading GM global product development will continue for
years to come.
"Tom Stephens is the perfect guy to take the reins of GM's global product
development," Wagoner continued. "He's had extensive experience in virtually
every aspect of our global product development activities. With his 40 years
at GM, Tom has an extraordinary understanding of our products and our
organization, and is highly respected worldwide. I'm confident that with
Tom's passion for great products and vast knowledge of advanced propulsion, he
will continue to raise the bar in executing outstanding GM cars and trucks.
Note: Biographies of Lutz and Stephens are available on the GM Media and
Investor websites. Photos are available on the GM Media site.
About GM - General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM), one of the world's largest
automakers, was founded in 1908, and today manufactures cars and trucks in 34
countries. With its global headquarters in Detroit, GM employs 252,000 people
in every major region of the world, and sells and services vehicles in some
140 countries. In 2008, GM sold 8.35 million cars and trucks globally under
the following brands: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, GM Daewoo, Holden,
Hummer, Opel, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn, Vauxhall and Wuling. GM's largest
national market is the United States, followed by China, Brazil, the United
Kingdom, Canada, Russia and Germany. GM's OnStar subsidiary is the industry
leader in vehicle safety, security and information services. More information
on GM can be found at www.gm.com.
SOURCE General Motors Corporation