Boerneracehounds50 Posted June 9, 2009 Report Share Posted June 9, 2009 Could be racing related seeing GM has a big connection to NASCAR and other racing veniues, I think this is a great move on GM's part, "Uncle Ed", as we called him at AT&T, has kept the largest Telecommunications company aflote and in the good, best of luck to ol "uncle Ed". 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. CONTACT(S): Julie M. Gibson GM Financial Communications 212.418.6381 313.213.3086 (cell) Julie.m.gibson@gm.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosie Posted June 9, 2009 Report Share Posted June 9, 2009 He must have been a big Obama supporter... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jracer98 Posted June 10, 2009 Report Share Posted June 10, 2009 Is it too much to ask to hire some REAL car guys to run it? not "spreadsheet" guys...not some guy who was good with frozen yogurt. How can the same company imagine and build a C6 Corvette and a Pontiac Aztek? Is there not some high imagination, engineering driven person like a modern day Jim Wangers, pre coke John Delorean, Lee Iacocca? JMO Jay Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boerneracehounds50 Posted June 10, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 10, 2009 I allways thought Rick Hendrick and Richard Childress as team CEO's....now they now cars and GM. Look what advisors they would have. On the other side, Ed Whitaker is a great business man and knows how to run a business reguardless what the product is. JMO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelyd13 Posted June 14, 2009 Report Share Posted June 14, 2009 Let's assume Ed knows nothing about cars and their production but what does that have to do him have the ability to turn GM around? He took a telephone GIANT (Southwestern Bell.....SBC and now AT&T) and made it the successful business that it is today and he use to be a telephone installer and knew nothing about spreadsheets. Trust me GM will be in a much better place with him then with out him. I was sad to see Ed leave AT&T because he provided such a stable place to work and is also a strong believer in the Union. I'm sure the Auto Makers Union will be welcoming him with open arms. I wish him luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boerneracehounds50 Posted June 15, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 15, 2009 Kelly, you are so right, when I worked for att in San antonio for years , I had the pleasure to meet, talk and have lunch with him and others, what a down to earth man, doesnt talk over you at all, and yes he has good relations with the union wheather it be CWA or or the Auto workers union, I also wish Ed the best of luck, If yall ever heard the reason Ed pulled all corp headqurters out of Saint Louis and why he moved it to San Antonio you would die laughing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debwill Posted June 15, 2009 Report Share Posted June 15, 2009 I'm proud to say that I also knew Ed from my former career at SBC. He was very down to earth, got things done and was well-respected by the employees. It must be his Texas roots (Ennis native, I think). With his generous retirement package from AT&T, hopefully he won't be focused on how rich he can get with GM, but rather direct his concentration on fixing the problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CC57 Posted June 15, 2009 Report Share Posted June 15, 2009 ...If yall ever heard the reason Ed pulled all corp headqurters out of Saint Louis and why he moved it to San Antonio you would die laughing. Would it be: Proximity to his personal property Texas or Exclusion from a St. Louis country club he wanted to join? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boerneracehounds50 Posted June 17, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 17, 2009 cc57, I herd the second was what did it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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