She will replace Daniel Akerson, and be the first woman to run a US carmaker.

 

Ms Barra joined GM as an electrical engineering student in 1980 and has worked her way up to lead GM's global product development.

 

The product development job is considered a critical role at a carmaker and Ms Barra received praise for her leadership of GM's unit.

 

Under her leadership, GM rolled out new pick-up trucks and the Chevrolet Impala, which was highly rated by Consumer Reports magazine.

 

 

"With an amazing portfolio³ of cars and trucks and the strongest financial performance in our recent history, this is an exciting time at today's GM," Ms Barra said in a company statement. 

 

Ms Barra also has a reputation for keeping costs down and cutting bureaucracy. 

 

GM will no longer be known as 'Government Motors' says specialist Jeff Bennett

 

As head of human resources after the 2009 bailout, she was credited with slashing paperwork - including a 10 page-dress code.

 

She's also of GM lineage: her father worked for 39 years as a dye maker¹ for the car manufacturer in its now defunct⁴ Pontiac division.

点击收听单词发音