General Motors Corp. on May 30 named the current head of its Shanghai-based Asian operations to take over the company's North American operations. Troy Clarke, 51, will assist CEO Rick Wagoner in implementing the company's restructuring plan when he becomes president of GM North America (GMNA) in July.
"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 GMNA team as it continues this unprecedented restructuring," he said. "Troy has a track record of success in general management, manufacturing and labor relations in the U.S. and globally, which will be invaluable in his new assignment."
Clarke, the son of a GM blue-collar worker, has been president of GM Asia Pacific since 2004. He has an extensive background in labor relations and manufacturing and also headed GM operations in Mexico. Clarke will assume his new role just as negotiations heat up between the bankrupt Delphi Corp., its former parts division, and the United Auto Workers over wage cuts proposed for Delphi workers.
GM also announced that David "Nick" Reilly, who is also president and chief executive of GM Daewoo Auto and Technology Co. in South Korea, would replace Clarke as Asian operations president.
In other company moves, Vice Chairman John Devine, 62, will be retiring effective June 1. Devine had announced his retirement in December when the company named Fritz Henderson as chief financial officer.
Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2006
