Mary Barra Named GM Chairman Alongside Existing CEO Position

Current General Motors chief executive Marry Barra has just been elected by the automaker’s board of directors as its new chairman.

Barra has served as the chief executive of GM since January 15, 2014 and in that time, has had to deal with the massive ignition switch recall. She will retain he role as CEO and effective immediately, also take up the position of chairman from Theodore Solso, who’ll now serve solely as the Board’s Lead Independent Director.

Before she was named CEO, Barra had a number of other important roles within the conglomerate, such as serving as the vice president of Global Human Resources, vice president of Global Manufacturing Engineering, plant managed at Detroit Hamtramch Assembly and executive director of Competitive Operations Engineering.

In a statement, outgoing chairman Theodore Solso said “At a time of unprecedented industry change, the Board concluded it is in the best interests of the company to combine the roles of Chair and CEO in order to drive the most efficient execution of our plan and vision for the future. With GM consistently delivering on its targets and on track to generate significant value for its shareholders, this is the right time for Mary to assume this role.”

Barra herself added to this by revealing her intent to help General Motors lead “in the transformation of personal mobility”.