First woman named to be a product chief at a Detroit automaker

[LuckyTheDog]

It will be interesting to see how -- if at all -- she changes the emphasis at GM:

As General Motors’ new head of global product development, Mary Barra breaks a gender barrier and shows that a 30-year GM veteran who worked her way up from the factory floor can flourish in the new culture CEO Dan Akerson is fostering.

In her new role, Barra, 49, is in charge of one of GM’s most important roles: development of future cars and trucks.

While several automakers have women in key engineering roles, Barra will be the first woman to ever lead product development at a Detroit Three automaker. Barra succeeds Vice Chairman Tom Stephens, 62, who will become chief technology officer. But, essentially, she is filling the shoes of the Ultimate Car Guy, Bob Lutz, who retired in May and said Barra “has demonstrated her capability in every job.”

More: http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110120/BUSINESS0101/110120025/1331/Business01/She-breaks-a-gender-barrier-at-GM&template=fullarticle