Stephen J. Girsky, GM Vice Chairman, Corporate Strategy, Business Development, Global Product Planning and Global Purchasing and Supply Chain to Serve as Interim Head of GM European Operations. Photo courtesy GM

Russelsheim, Germany – July 12, 2012

General Motors Europe President and Opel/Vauxhall CEO Karl-Friedrich Stracke today stepped down from his position to take on special assignments reporting to GM Chairman and CEO Dan Akerson.

GM Vice Chairman Steve Girsky, currently Chairman of the Opel Supervisory Board, will serve as acting head of GM’s European operations as the company searches for a replacement.

Karl-Friedrich Stracke, 56, was President, GM Europe and Chairman of the Management Board of Adam Opel, in charge of all Opel/Vauxhall operations. Photo courtesy GM

Stracke, 56, was President, GM Europe and Chairman of the Management Board of Adam Opel, in charge of all Opel/Vauxhall operations.

He led the effort to put Opel/Vauxhall on a path toward sustained profitability amid a massive European economic downturn.

The Opel Supervisory Board will be convened soon to appoint an interim chairman of the management board.

Daniel F. Akerson, GM Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Photo courtesy GM

“Karl Stracke worked tirelessly, under great pressure, to stabilize this business and we look forward to building on his success. We appreciate Karl’s many contributions to GM’s success,” Akerson said.

Stephen J. Girsky, GM Vice Chairman, Corporate Strategy, Business Development, Global Product Planning and Global Purchasing and Supply Chain. Photo courtesy GM

“I am leaving my current position knowing that Opel/Vauxhall has a bright future,” Stracke said.
“And I am looking forward to taking on new challenges for GM and Dan Akerson.”


General Motors Co.

General Motors Co. (NYSE:GM, TSX: GMM) and its partners produce vehicles in 30 countries, and the company has leadership positions in the world's largest and fastest-growing automotive markets.

GM’s brands include Chevrolet and Cadillac, as well as Baojun, Buick, GMC, Holden, Isuzu, Jiefang, Opel, Vauxhall and Wuling.

More information on the company and its subsidiaries, including OnStar, a global leader in vehicle safety, security and information services, can be found at http://www.gm.com  



Stephen J. Girsky

GM Vice Chairman, Corporate Strategy, Business Development, Global Product Planning and Global Purchasing and Supply Chain.

Stephen J. Girsky Photo courtesy GM

Steve Girsky was named GM vice chairman, Corporate Strategy and Business Development effective March 1, 2010.

In this position, he has overall responsibility for corporate strategy, business alliances, new business development and other related areas.

On January 1, 2011, he assumed responsibility for OnStar, and on February 1, 2011, he also assumed responsibility for the Global Product Planning and Global Purchasing and Supply Chain organizations.

He continues to serve on the General Motors Board of Directors, a position he has held since July 10, 2009.

He also became chairman of the Adam Opel AG Supervisory Board on November 21, 2011.

Prior to becoming GM Vice Chairman, he briefly served as Senior Advisor to the Office of the Chairman.

Previously, Steve was president of S. J. Girsky & Co, an independent advisory firm based in New York, where he applied more than twenty years of experience working with senior corporate and board executives, labor leaders, OEM leaders, suppliers and dealers, national and local policy makers.

He also served as the lead director of Dana Holdings Corp.

Steve also served as president of Centerbridge Industrial Partners, an affiliate of Centerbridge Partners, LP, an investment fund with approximately $8 billion of assets under management.

Prior to Centerbridge, Steve was a special advisor to the CEO and CFO of General Motors Corporation from August 2005 to June 2006.

In all, Steve has 25 years of automotive experience, including serving as managing director at Morgan Stanley and as senior analyst of the Morgan Stanley Global Automotive and Auto Parts Research Team.

While at Morgan Stanley, Steve was ranked the No. 1 automotive and auto parts analyst by Institutional Investor's "All-American Research Team" annual investor poll for 14 consecutive years.

His automotive and auto parts team ranked No. 1 in the Greenwich Associates poll for 14 consecutive years as well.

Prior to joining Morgan Stanley, he was managing director of PaineWebber's Automotive Group and worked as an analyst on the overseas financial staff of GM.

Steve holds a B.S. in mathematics from the University of California at Los Angeles and an M.B.A. from the Harvard Business School.

He was born on April 30, 1962.

Charitable and non-profit organizations which Steve has supported over the years include the United Jewish Appeal, Student/Sponsor Partnership, Multiple Sclerosis, The UCLA Chancellor's Associates Fund, Harvard Business School, Columbia University, Cornell University, the United Way and The Babies & Children's Hospital of New York.


Source: General Motors

http://media.gm.com/media/us/en/gm/news.html  



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