Directorate Change

Joe Spielman Replaces Guy Briggs as GM Manufacturing VP 
 
       - Briggs to Retire at End of 2003, Concluding 43-Year GM Career 
 
   - Jim Wiemels to Replace Spielman as VP of GM Metal Fabricating Division 
                                        
  - Kent Sears Assigned New Role, Kevin Williams Promoted to Vice President 
 
    DETROIT, April 1 -- Joe Spielman will become vice president and general 
manager of GM Vehicle Manufacturing on May 1, replacing Guy Briggs, who will 
retire at year's end, GM North America President Gary Cowger announced today. 
    Briggs, who will turn 65 in May, will retire Dec. 31, ending a 
distinguished 43-year career at the world's largest automaker.  He will 
continue to work with the manufacturing team to assist with the transition in 
leadership, and to provide stability during critical 2003 and 2004 model-year 
product launches and the 2003 labor negotiations.   
    'Guy Briggs will leave GM having established a remarkable legacy of 
innovation and change in GM manufacturing,' Cowger said.  'GM's assembly 
plants reached new heights in safety, quality and productivity under Guy's 
leadership, thanks to his sincere commitment to people and success at building 
relationships.' 
    Spielman, 58, has been vice president and general manager of GM Metal 
Fabricating Division since October 1994.  In replacing Briggs, he will assume 
operational responsibility for all of GM's North American assembly plants. 
    'Joe is no stranger to GM North America assembly plants,' Cowger said.  
'He brings a wealth of manufacturing experience and will continue to drive GM 
to the leadership position in quality and productivity, while building on our 
industry-leading safety performance.' 
    James Wiemels, 56, was named to replace Spielman as vice president and 
general manager of GM Metal Fabricating Division.  He also will be responsible 
for the global integration of GM's stamping operations. 
    Briggs, Spielman and Wiemels will report to Troy Clarke, group vice 
president, Manufacturing and Labor Relations. 
    Briggs was named to his current job in 2001, after serving as vice 
president and general manager of the former GM Truck Group since 1991.  He 
previously was the first manufacturing leader for Saturn Corp. from 1985 to 
1991.  He joined GM in 1961 after earning bachelor's and master's degrees from 
the University of Michigan. 
    Spielman was named vice president and general manager of the former Rear 
Drive Automotive Division in 1991.  In 1992, he was appointed vice president 
and general manager of the former Midsize Car Division, a position he held 
until his current assignment.  He joined GM in 1963 as a General Motors 
Institute cooperative student.   
    Wiemels returned to North America from GM Europe in September 2002, where 
he had managed the global integration of GM's manufacturing process.  He was 
appointed vice president of manufacturing for GM Europe in June 1999, and 
previously was chairman and managing director of Holden Ltd., GM's Australian 
subsidiary, beginning in 1997.  In 1992, he was named manufacturing manager 
for the former Lansing Automotive Division, and was appointed general manager 
of that division in 1994.  He also was elected a vice president in 1994.  He 
joined GM in 1964 as a student at the Chevrolet Cleveland manufacturing plant. 
    'Jim Wiemels brings a wealth of global manufacturing experience to GM's 
Metal Fabricating Division,' Clarke said.  'Under his leadership, GM's Metal 
Fabricating Division will continue narrowing the gap with the industry leaders 
in stamping sheet metal and other key parts.' 
    In other moves announced today and effective May 1: 
    -- Kent Sears, 56, GM North America vice president for quality, will 
assume responsibility for implementing the principles of GM's Global 
Manufacturing System within non-manufacturing staffs and for the overall 
coordination of the global manufacturing process team.  He will report to 
Cowger.  Before he was named to his current assignment in 2001, Sears had 
served as manufacturing manager for full-size trucks since 1996.  In 1993, he 
was named director of manufacturing for transmissions and components for GM 
Powertrain.  He also served as plant manager in several engine and assembly 
plants.  Sears began his GM career in 1967 at the former Frigidaire Division 
in Dayton, Ohio. 
    -- Kevin Williams, 41, executive director of supplier quality, development 
and supplier diversity, will be promoted to GM North America vice president 
for quality, replacing Sears.  Williams also will report to Cowger.  Williams 
was named to his current position in 2000 after holding leadership positions 
in manufacturing, engineering, quality/reliability and program management, 
including assignments at the Janesville Assembly Plant and with Adam Opel AG 
in Ruesselsheim, Germany.  
    'Kent's efforts to focus on quality across the entire organization is a 
big reason for our recent successes,' Cowger said.  'His leadership and 
organizational skills will help us drive efficiencies into our non-
manufacturing staffs.' 
    'The tremendous gains in supplier quality over the past few years are in 
large part a result of Kevin's efforts,' Cowger said.  'He has the right 
skills and background to continue our drive toward being the industry leader 
in product quality.' 
    General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM), the world's largest vehicle manufacturer, 
employs 349,000 people globally in its core automotive business and 
subsidiaries.  Founded in 1908, GM has been the global automotive sales leader 
since 1931.  GM today has manufacturing operations in 32 countries and its 
vehicles are sold in more than 190 countries.  In 2002, GM sold more than  
8.5 million cars and trucks, nearly 15 percent of the global vehicle market. 
GM's global headquarters is at the GM Renaissance Center in Detroit.  More 
information on GM and its products can be found on the company's consumer 
website at www.gm.com . 
 
SOURCE  General Motors Corporation 
    -0-                             04/01/2003 P 
    /NOTE TO EDITORS:  For additional media information, visit 
http://media.gm.com ./ 
    /CONTACT:  Pat Morrissey of GM Communications, [phone],  
Cell: [phone], [e-mail] / 
    /Web site:  http://media.gm.com / 
    /Web site:  http://www.gm.com / 
    (GM) 
 
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