UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549-1004
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FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report
(Date of earliest event reported) February 4, 2004
GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION
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(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
STATE OF DELAWARE 38-0572515
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(State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer
Incorporation or Organization) Identification No.)
300 Renaissance Center, Detroit, Michigan 48265-3000
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(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code (313) 556-5000
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ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS
GM Names New Regional Presidents for Europe, Asia Pacific
Burns Resigns to Join Dana Corp., Lutz to Serve as Interim President of GM
Europe Henderson, Clarke, Briggs Take on New Assignments
DETROIT - Fritz Henderson will become president of GM Europe on June 1,
replacing Mike Burns, who has resigned to become CEO, president and a director
of Dana Corp., effective March 1, GM Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner announced
today.
Troy Clarke becomes executive vice president, GM Asia Pacific, effective
immediately, to ensure a smooth transition with Henderson in advance of his
appointment as president of GM Asia Pacific in Singapore on June 1. Both
Henderson and Clarke retain their titles of GM group vice president.
GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz will assume the additional responsibility of president
of GM Europe on an interim basis until Henderson moves into his new assignment
in Zurich, Switzerland, in June. Lutz retains his positions as GM vice chairman
of product development and chairman of GM North America.
Guy Briggs, vice president of manufacturing, succeeds Clarke as GM group vice
president of North America manufacturing and labor relations, effective
immediately.
"We are fortunate to have executives with the breadth and depth of experience
that Bob, Fritz, Troy and Guy bring to these senior leadership positions,"
Wagoner said.
Burns, 51, has been president of GM Europe since September 1998, responsible for
all European operations, including the coordination of GM's activities with
Fiat.
"Mike has led a major restructuring of our European operations, which has made
significant progress under very difficult circumstances," Wagoner said. "He
deserves a lot of the credit for making our joint ventures with Fiat a success,
and for beginning the effort to make GM a true multi-brand franchise across
Europe. He has accomplished much in his 33 years at GM, and we wish him well at
Dana."
Henderson, 45, has been president of GM Asia Pacific since January 2002, after
serving as president of GM Latin America, Africa and Middle East. He previously
was a GM vice president and president and managing director of GM do Brasil, and
a former general manager of Delphi Saginaw Steering Systems.
Henderson joined GM in 1984 as a senior analyst in the treasurer's office in New
York. After holding a variety of financial assignments, he was transferred to
GMAC, where he held several positions of increasing responsibility.
"Fritz is a well-rounded executive with two decades of broad, global
experience," Wagoner said. "He is particularly well-qualified to lead the GM
Europe team in completing their turnaround.
"I also very much appreciate Bob Lutz's willingness to go to GM Europe and lead
this great organization on an interim basis. Bob has many years of outstanding
experience in the European auto industry, and he'll work with the GM Europe team
to accelerate their progress."
Clarke, 48, has headed North America manufacturing and labor relations since
June 2002, and previously was GM vice president of labor relations, and
president and managing director of GM de Mexico. He joined GM in 1973 at the
Pontiac division, where he held a series of engineering and manufacturing
assignments.
"Continuing our recent outstanding success in Asia Pacific is critical to GM's
future, and I'm confident Troy will build on the momentum GM has seen in that
region over the past several years," Wagoner said. With his appointment, Clarke
will join GM's Automotive Strategy Board.
Briggs, 65, has been vice president of manufacturing since January 2001. He had
planned to retire at the end of last year, but agreed to stay on to continue
working on several manufacturing issues. In his new position, Briggs becomes a
member of the North America Strategy Board.
Briggs is a 42-year GM veteran with a long resume of manufacturing leadership
positions, including vice president and general manager of operations at the
former GM Truck Group, and head of manufacturing for Saturn Corp. He joined GM
at the former Flint Chevrolet assembly plant in 1961.
"Guy is a highly effective leader with a remarkable resume of experience and
accomplishment in manufacturing and labor relations," Wagoner said.
General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM), the world's largest vehicle manufacturer,
employs 325,000 people globally. Founded in 1908, GM has been the global
automotive sales leader since 1931. GM today has manufacturing operations in 32
countries and its vehicles are sold in 192 countries. In 2003, GM sold nearly
8.6 million cars and trucks, about 15 percent of the global vehicle market. GM's
global headquarters is at the GM Renaissance Center in Detroit. More information
on GM and its products can be found on the company's corporate website at
www.gm.com.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION
(Registrant)
Date: February 4, 2004 By: /s/PETER R. BIBLE.
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(Peter R. Bible,
Chief Accounting Officer)