By Jeff Bennett
General Motors Co. announced the departure of two senior leaders
Monday as Chief Executive Mary Barra posted another blog saying
executives will be held accountable in the company's
ignition-switch recall.
John Quattrone replaces Melissa Howell as senior vice president
global human resources. Ms. Howell, said the company, is leaving GM
to pursue other interests. GM also announced the departure of Selim
Bingol, senior vice president of global communications and public
policy. Mr. Bingol is also leaving the company to pursue other
interests.
The moves, say company insiders, are part of Ms. Barra's plans
to revamp her leadership team since taking over the chief executive
position in January. However, the announcement comes less than a
week after GM said it was placing two engineers on paid leave due
to their roles connected to the delay in issuing a recall for
faulty ignition switches. It took the company nearly a decade to
initiate a recall despite discovering the problem in 2004. A total
of 13 deaths have been linked to crashes involving the faulty
switches which can slip into the "accessory" position from "run,"
shutting power off to the air bags.
Separately, Ms. Barra took to the corporate blog yet again to
communicate with employees and customers.
"Importantly, we promise accountability from our senior
leadership back to these employees that we will take action or
close each issue in a timely fashion," Ms. Barra said in her blog
posting. "We will learn from our recent experience, and it will
make us better."
Last week, Ray DeGiorgio and Gary Altman, were placed on paid
leave following a briefing from Chicago attorney Anton Valukas who
is overseeing an independent investigation into circumstances
leading to the recall.
"This is an interim step as we seek the truth about what
happened," Ms. Barra said in a statement. "It was a difficult
decision, but I believe it is best for GM."
Ms. Howell joined GM in 1990 and was named senior vice president
of global human resources in February 2013.
Mr. Quattrone is a native of Syracuse, N.Y., and began at GM in
1975. He has held various positions in human resources and labor
relations an appointed GM North America's vice president of human
resources in 2001.
Mr. Bingol joined GM in 2010 as senior vice president global
communications. He took on the additional role of global public
policy in October 2012.
A replacement has yet to be named.
Write to Jeff Bennett at jeff.bennett@wsj.com
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