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Former AT&T CEO Edward Whitacre, Jr. to Become Chairman of New GM

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GM has announced this morning that the former AT&T CEO, Edward Whitacre, Jr. will become chairman of the "new" GM when the company is launched this summer. GM's interim Chairman Kent Kresa will continue to serve as interim chairman until the launch.

"The appointment of Ed Whitacre as chairman represents a very auspicious beginning for the New GM," said Kresa. "We look forward to working with him to complete the reinvention of GM and maximize the enormous potential of this new enterprise."

Whitacre and Kresa will join current board members Philip A. Laskawy, Kathryn V. Marinello, Erroll B. Davis, Jr., E. Neville Isdell and President and Chief Executive Officer Frederick A. Henderson will serve as the board for the new GM. The six other members of the board will likely retire.

"I am honored to be able to serve GM at this critical juncture and take part in its reinvention," said Whitacre.

PRESS RELEASE:

Edward Whitacre, Jr. to Become Chairman of New GM

Edward E. Whitacre, Jr., former chairman and CEO of AT&T Inc., will become chairman of the New GM when the company is launched later this summer, GM's interim Chairman Kent Kresa announced today. Kresa will continue to serve as interim chairman until the launch.

Whitacre and Kresa, along with current board members Philip A. Laskawy, Kathryn V. Marinello, Erroll B. Davis, Jr., E. Neville Isdell and President and Chief Executive Officer Frederick A. Henderson, will serve as the nucleus of the New GM board, providing management oversight and a continuing commitment to transparency and world-class standards of corporate governance.

The six other members of the current board will most likely retire no later than the approval of the sale of GM assets to the new entity. A selection process is currently underway for four more directors to serve on the board of the New GM. In addition, the Canadian government and the new UAW Voluntary Employee Benefit Association (VEBA) will each nominate one director, bringing the total number of New GM directors to 13.

Whitacre, 67, was chairman and CEO of AT&T Inc. and its predecessor companies from 1990 to 2007. During his tenure, which began with Southwestern Bell, Whitacre led the company through a series of mergers and acquisitions--including that of AT&T in 2005--to create the nation's largest provider of local, long distance and wireless services. He serves on the boards of ExxonMobil Corporation and the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation and holds a degree in industrial engineering from Texas Technological University.

"The appointment of Ed Whitacre as chairman represents a very auspicious beginning for the New GM," said Kresa. "We look forward to working with him to complete the reinvention of GM and maximize the enormous potential of this new enterprise."

"I am honored to be able to serve GM at this critical juncture and take part in its reinvention," said Whitacre.

General Motors Corp., 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 235,000 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 U.S., 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.

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Comments (7)

Noya:

Wow, get a crook from dirty old AT&T to run the place.

Just look at his picture, you can tell he's a skeety f*ck.

Patrick:

All we need in this story is how much will his guaranteed golden parachute be when he fails miserably?

SteelCity1981:

HA oh man. Just take GM in the back of the woodshed already and shoot it. Seriously, they go from one moron chairman to another.

obamamotors:

Keeping it all within the old boy's club. These friends just rotate CEOs and directors from one company to another while getting rich in the process. Expect more of the same. How much will the next bailout cost you?


patrick:

The only difference now is that this JackA$$ will set up a process to install a program in the onstar to let the government spooks know where you are all times.
He is after all the one who volunteered to give them the warrant-less wire taps.

Patrick:

that is a very good point about onstar,he gave phone info to the government without even the threat of warrant.

Dante:

This guy is a sleezebag. Yet another political appointment to a powerful position by a buddy of the federal government. IF I buy another GM, the OnStar will be DISABLED by me, I promise you.

Golden parachutes for executives who FAIL should be made illegal. It's treasonous what they are doing with OUR taxpayer dollars! This guy doesn't know a car from his rectum. He's NOT a brilliant businessman. He's A CRONIE for the federal government that will do whatever they tell him, no matter HOW illegal it is. (Warrantless wiretaps, where he willingly handed over personal phone records, against privacy laws - not to mention the Constitution - for political gain, over the objections of his legal counsel... he's a SLIMEBALL!)

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