Mary Barra to Lead GM's Global Manufacturing Engineering

Jim Wiemels to retire after a distinguished 43 year GM career

2008-01-11 -- GM Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner today announced that Mary Barra, currently executive director, vehicle manufacturing engineering, will be appointed GM vice president, global manufacturing engineering, effective February 1. In her new position, Mary will report to Gary Cowger, GM group vice president, global manufacturing and labor relations. She will succeed Jim Wiemels, who will retire April 1 after 43 years of service.

"We are pleased to have a leader of Mary Barra's capability ready to step into this important role, heading up engineering for our assembly plants worldwide," Wagoner said. "We thank Jim Wiemels for his 43 years of exemplary service in a wide range of manufacturing and general management leadership roles around the globe."

Barra, 46, was most recently executive director, vehicle manufacturing engineering. She joined GM in 1980 as a co-op student. She earned her Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering from General Motors Institute (now Kettering University) in 1985, and an MBA from Stanford, where she was a GM Fellow. Prior to her current assignment, Barra was plant manager for the Detroit Hamtramck Assembly Center. Among other assignments, Barra also served as manager for manufacturing planning for GM Midsize Car Division, as general director for internal communications for GM North America, and as executive director of competitive operations engineering for North American Vehicle Operations.

Wiemels, 61, also attended General Motors Institute, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering, attended the Harvard program for management development, and received an MA in business management from Central Michigan University. Among his many assignments, Wiemels was a general manager for the Lansing Automotive Division, chairman and managing director of GM Holden Ltd., and vice president for manufacturing for GM Europe. He has been a GM vice president since 1994.

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General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM), the world's largest automaker, has been the annual global industry sales leader for 76 years. Founded in 1908, GM today employs about 274,000 people around the world. With global headquarters in Detroit, GM manufactures its cars and trucks in 35 countries. In 2006, nearly 9.1 million GM cars and trucks were sold globally under the following brands: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, GM Daewoo, Holden, HUMMER, Opel, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn, Vauxhall and Wuling. 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: GM

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