DETROIT (June 16, 2009) — General Motors Corp. on June 15 named longtime purchasing executive Robert Socia, 55, to replace Bo Andersson as group vice president for purchasing and supply chain.
Socia currently serves as executive vice president of Shanghai General Motors. When his new job takes affect July 1, he will inherit an $86 billion annual purchasing budget that buys 190,000 parts.
His primary job will be to meet CEO Fritz Henderson's goals for wringing cost savings from the auto maker's supply base as it shrinks through bankruptcy.
In a statement, Henderson said Socia has been prepared for the job through his "diverse experience leading operations in Europe, South Africa and China, his proven dedication to putting the customer first and his extensive experience in purchasing."
Socia joined GM in 1975 at the Cadillac Division in Detroit. He has been a senior purchasing manager in Brazil, vice president of purchasing for GM Europe and chairman of GM-Fiat worldwide purchasing during the auto makers' alliance at the beginning of this decade.
Andersson, 53, resigned from GM earlier this month and departed Friday. Russian car maker GAZ said June 15 that Andersson has agreed to become its chairman.