Mary Barra of General Motors Becomes First Female CEO of a Major Automotive Company
Mary Barra made history on December 10, 2013, when she was appointed CEO of General Motors (GM), becoming the first woman to lead a major automotive company. With a career spanning 33 years at GM, Barra held various significant roles prior to her CEO appointment, including executive vice president of global product development. Her leadership came at a crucial time; GM was emerging from a challenging period marked by bankruptcy in 2009, during which it received a substantial government bailout to stabilize its operations. As CEO, Barra aimed to implement transformative changes within the company, focusing on innovations such as lightweight vehicles and more efficient engines. She played a key role in introducing models like the Chevrolet Sonic and overseeing redesigns of popular pickup trucks. Despite her achievements, her tenure faced challenges, including public scrutiny over safety issues, highlighted by a protest that led to the cancellation of her scheduled award ceremony at the National Women’s History Museum in 2014. Barra's appointment and initiatives reflect a significant moment in the automotive industry, particularly regarding gender representation in leadership roles.
Mary Barra of General Motors Becomes First Female CEO of a Major Automotive Company
Mary Barra of General Motors Becomes First Female CEO of a Major Automotive Company
Mary Barra, an employee of General Motors (GM) for 33 years, was named chief executive officer (CEO) of the automobile company on December 10, 2013.
General Motors, the nation's largest and most powerful automobile company, declared bankruptcy in 2009 and needed a $49.5 billion government bailout in order to survive. Barra would be responsible for bringing changes (e.g., light-weight vehicles and more fuel-efficient engines) to the automaker.
Barra's experience at GM includes executive vice president of global product development, vice president of global human resources, and vice president of global manufacturing engineering. During her tenure, Barra introduced small cars like the Chevrolet Sonic as well as redesigns of pickup trucks.
Barra was scheduled to attend a ceremony at the National Women's History Museum in November 2014, to receive the Katherine Graham Living Legacy Award, but GM cancelled her appearance after a group of people whose relatives and friends were killed in GM cars protested the award.