News: Good Old Bob's Most Important GM Assignment

[catbert]

News Courtesy of AutoWeek:

"Susan Docherty just got handed the keys to the General Motors kingdom.
Docherty, most recently vice president of sales, on Friday is expected to be put in charge of marketing GM's four remaining U.S. brands--Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac--as well as the service and parts organization and OnStar.
Before her most recent sales job, Docherty, 46, ran Buick-GMC.
Bob Lutz will get some new responsibilities, too, and will become an advisor to GM chairman Ed Whitacre. You'll recall that Lutz, 77, GM's product chief for the past 10 years, was going to retire at the beginning of this year. He later changed his mind and became vice chairman in charge of marketing.
Word has it that board member Steve Girsky also has been named a Whitacre advisor. Girsky represents the UAW on GM's board. He is a former Morgan Stanley analyst.
Whitacre became interim CEO following CEO Fritz Henderson's departure three days ago.
GM has scheduled an employee broadcast for 9 a.m. Detroit time. We hear the new management structure was developed in four hours."

As chief advisor to the new boss, who knows business, but not GM, Bob is now in a position to impact GM like never before. There hasn't been a car guy with this much clout at GM since.......?
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[JBsC5]

Is this a true power position to enact change or is it a pedistal (SP) to keep from doing anything?

If he took it it's meaningful. If he keeps it he's contributing. He'll retire in a heartbeat if he isn't having fun. He has too much fun with his planes and cars to waste his time.