GM Busy Replacing Top Brass

It seems that General Motors is trying to gear itself up by refreshing its management positions. The company has removed its Chevrolet Brand Manager, Brent Dewar, after just five months of his posting in July by former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Fritz Henderson. Dewar will be replaced by James Campbell, who joined General Motors (hereafter, GM) in 1988 and was previously in charge of the automaker's fleet and commercial vehicle operations.

GM has also revealed its decision to replace current Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Ray Young. The automaker has plans to announce a new CFO within two to three weeks.

Last week, GM ousted Fritz Henderson from his position, blaming the slower-than-expected recovery of the company. Currently, GM Board’s Chairman Ed Whitacre Jr. -- the former head of AT&T (T) -- is serving as an interim CEO until a replacement is found.

Henderson, who joined GM in 1984, was promoted to CEO from CFO in March, replacing Rick Wagoner. Wagoner was forced to resign by the government on the same grounds -- of ushering in "more radical change." Henderson’s appointment as CEO had provoked much skepticism, since he was an insider.

Some proponents believe that its time for GM to look for outsiders the way that Ford (F) did by appointing Boeing (BA) CEO Alan Mulally. Mulally was successful in keeping Ford out of the bankruptcy filing and even turned in a surprise profit of $1 billion in the third quarter.

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