Next GM CEO Could Be Mary Barra, Company's Highest Ranking Female

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CEO Dan Akerson says that the companies next CEO could be Mary Barra, the company's highest ranking female employee.

Barra is the head of GM global product development and a board member of Opel. She has worked at GM since 1980 and worked her way up to vice president in charge of global human resources. She took the job as head of product development in February, 2011. 

"I wouldn't be surprised if she were [CEO], but I wouldn't handicap it today and I think there are a good number of candidates. It's the board's job [to pick a replacement], not mine," said Akerson.

Four of GM's 12 directors are women and 20% of its technical staff are female. 

Akerson went on to say the the US government, which still owns about a quarter of GM's available stock, will not being making any decisions about the company's next CEO. He gave no time frame on his exit from the company. 

Other possible candidates for GM's CEO include Vice Chairman Steve Girsky and North American operations chief Mark Reuss. 

Source: Automotive News