A year after entering bankruptcy protection, the executive shuffling is still ongoing down at General Motors. The latest moves come in the wake of the creation of GM's new venture capital unit, which will be headed up by Jon Laukner, whose previous job was vice president in charge of product planning and program management.
Product planning responsibility will now fall to Steve Carlisle, formerly VP of U.S. sales. One of the main goals of the changes made by CEO Ed Whitacre since taking over has been flattening the organization and removing layers of management. To that end, Carlisle will now be a direct report to Whitacre, who will henceforth have the final say in future product planning at GM. Previously, Laukner reported to vice chairman Tom Stephens, who retains control over all product development activities.
Many executives we've spoken to at GM in recent months say that while an increasing number of people are reporting to Whitacre, the ex AT&T man is not micromanaging. Instead, they argue, Whitacre is trying to put the right people in place and then relying on them to do the job. Still, the move to put someone with no previous auto industry experience in charge of product planning at GM has some pundits deeply concerned.
Is this a good move or a bad one? Check out the full slate of executive changes in the links below, then have your say in the comments.
[Sources: AutoWeek, Inside Line | Image: Bill Pugliano/Getty]
Product planning responsibility will now fall to Steve Carlisle, formerly VP of U.S. sales. One of the main goals of the changes made by CEO Ed Whitacre since taking over has been flattening the organization and removing layers of management. To that end, Carlisle will now be a direct report to Whitacre, who will henceforth have the final say in future product planning at GM. Previously, Laukner reported to vice chairman Tom Stephens, who retains control over all product development activities.
Many executives we've spoken to at GM in recent months say that while an increasing number of people are reporting to Whitacre, the ex AT&T man is not micromanaging. Instead, they argue, Whitacre is trying to put the right people in place and then relying on them to do the job. Still, the move to put someone with no previous auto industry experience in charge of product planning at GM has some pundits deeply concerned.
Is this a good move or a bad one? Check out the full slate of executive changes in the links below, then have your say in the comments.
[Sources: AutoWeek, Inside Line | Image: Bill Pugliano/Getty]
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