GM names new GMNA President: Troy Clarke

[Northstar]

GM names Troy Clarke as new North America president

Reuters / May 30, 2006

DETROIT -- General Motors on Tuesday named Troy Clarke to head its struggling North American division, taking over day-to-day operations from CEO Rick Wagoner who has been leading the unit for the past year.

Clarke, president of GM Asia Pacific since 2004, returns to Detroit after a two-year stint in GM's fastest-growing market and in time for crucial 2007 labor contract negotiations with the United Auto Workers union.

Clark, whose new appointment will be effective July 1, served as GM's chief negotiator during previous round of contract talks with the UAW.

GM is struggling in North America, where it is battling to stop a slide in market share and to cut its high labor and benefit costs. GM lost $10.6 billion in 2005.

The automaker is in the midst of a sweeping restructuring, which includes shuttering 12 plants and cutting 30,000 jobs in North America to return the region to profits.

"While much work remains to be done, we have reached several significant milestones in our turnaround plan over the past year," Wagoner said. "This is the right time to turn the region's day-to-day operations over to Troy, who has the experience and skills to help lead the (North American) team as it continues this unprecedented restructuring."

David Reilly, President and CEO of GM Daewoo Auto & Technology Co. in South Korea, will replace Clarke as president of GM Asia Pacific, GM said.

GM also said on Tuesday that Vice Chairman John Devine, who announced in December that he planned to retire this year, would leave the company on June 1.

[nzr]

Haha, good to see Wagoner going.

I hope Troy is a car guy.

Edited May 30, 2006 by nzr

[Northstar]

Haha, good to see Wagoner going.  

I hope Troy is a car guy.

This was going to happen all along until Wagoner got GMNA straightened out. Now he can just focus on doing the CEO tasks and not both.

I don't know if Troy is a car guy.

[ZL-1]

Clarke, president of GM Asia Pacific since 2004, returns to Detroit after a two-year stint in GM's fastest-growing market(...)

It's good that he was there: his horizons have surely broadened to different ways of doing things and surely GMNA will benefit from that.

[sciguy_0504]

It's good that he was there: his horizons have surely broadened to different ways of doing things and surely GMNA will benefit from that.

Yes, that definately is a plus.

[jbartley]

Haha, good to see Wagoner going.  

Doesn't look like Wagoner is going anywhere soon.

[nzr]

Doesn't look like Wagoner is going anywhere soon.

Leaving that position.

[76ChevyTrucker]

I agree a whole lot with ZL-1 on this one, with his horizon's broadened he can hopefully keep the good things and times rolling for GM. And we can only hope that he is a car guy and will latch on and bring on the really good product that'll blow everyone's socks off.

[Sixty8panther]

AS long as he's into RWD, V8s and (pillarless)

hardtops we'll get along just fine.

[evok]

Troy Clarke is a GMI grad - he has some grease in his veins.

[Imaj]

I hope he's aint a bean-counter!

[regfootball]

oh what does buickman think?

[Newbiewar]

from how the article is reading, it almost seems as if he is returning to the possition of GMNA, after a 2 year trip to china...

who was the president of GMNA in 2004?

[Guest buickman]

The job of Chairman/CEO is a full time position in and of itself. Wagoner really had no business attempting to run NA as well. The record of dismal failure in market share and tremendous financial sufferings proves this to be the case. As for Mr Clarke, let's hope he can parlay his vast experience into improving the most vital part of the corporation.

Buickman

[jbartley]

Leaving that position.

   

He's still CEO, has the same office, and deals with the same people.

Troy takes over NA, something Wagoner has said would happen since day 1 of the GM crisis.

[Northstar]

from how the article is reading, it almost seems as if he is returning to the possition of GMNA, after a 2 year trip to china...

who was the president of GMNA in 2004?

It says he was the chief negoitator for GM during the last contract talks (which doesn't sound too promising for the upcoming ones, hopefully he gets more done this time).

Gary Cowger was the president previously, but he's doing some job globally now that consists of well, making GM more global.