Fritz Henderson, CEO of General Motors since March, resigned last week.
GM Chairman Edward Whitacre will succeed Henderson as a stopgap while a search for a new president and CEO starts immediately.
Henderson guided GM through the automaker’s 39-day bankruptcy in June and July after replacing the ousted Rick Wagoner in late March.
“Fritz has done a remarkable job in leading the company through an unprecedented period of challenge and change,” Whitacre said. “While momentum has been building over the past several months, all involved agree that changes needed to be made.”
GM spokesman Chris Preuss said Whitacre, who was appointed GM chairman in June after the company’s U.S.-steered bankruptcy filing, does not have long-term intentions to remain CEO.
The new boss, Whitacre, a former AT&T chief executive, became chairman of GM in July as part of a new board vetted by the U.S. Treasury and intended to safeguard the government’s $50 billion investment in the automaker. The plain-spoken Texan has said he knew nothing about the auto industry when he became chairman. He has surprised GM insiders by making unannounced plant visits and putting blunt questions to workers at all levels.
