Ken Cole, vice president of governmental relations for General Motors, will retire after 8 years on the job. In his place, GM's interim CEO, Ed Whitacre, will install his own men, John Montford and Bob Ferguson, both former AT&T executives.
Cole was tangled up in all the Capitol Hill battles during the year of upheaval at GM; his counterpart at Chrysler, John Bozzella, has already moved on to take a position with Cerberus Capital, former owner of Chrysler. Cole will stay on with GM as an advisor "until his retirement later in 2010," according to GM.
Montford (top headshot) will serve as a special advisor to Whitacre, while Ferguson (lower headshot) will hold the formal of title of vice president of government relations. They'll both be on the job January 1.
rick8365 says:
10:46 AM, 12/30/09
Erin,
You're a regular blog posting machine - very prolific..... I'm thinking this warrants a re-do of some lyrics - "Posting Queen" done to "Dancing Queen", perhaps. :-)
Thanks for all the good content.
mazda609 says:
11:00 AM, 12/30/09
Let me correct that for you
"Ed Whitacre, will install his own friends, John Montford and Bob Ferguson, both former AT&T executives."
rick8365 says:
11:03 AM, 12/30/09
Erin,
You're a regular blog posting machine - very prolific..... I'm thinking this warrants a re-do of some lyrics - "Posting Queen" done to "Dancing Queen", perhaps. :-)
Thanks for all the good content.
jackson611 says:
11:17 AM, 12/30/09
@mazda609:
montford was a texas senator for around 12 years (i think) and was served as the chairman of the finance committee and at least one other maybe more. while he was chancellor at texas tech he did an unbelievable job of fundraising and working with the state and donors to start new capital projects. there are very few people who are as good as montford when it comes to working the room. he knows how to work with politicians and government officials, which will serve him well at GM.
estreka says:
11:57 AM, 12/30/09
It seems inappropriate for Washington to select GM's ambassador to Washington.
mazda609 says:
12:49 PM, 12/30/09
I hope you are right Mr. Jackson, as long as its less corrupt and more beneficial for both the economy and the company.