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GM’S DHIVYA SURYADEVARA The American Automaker
Let’s be clear: there are many, many women working and thriving in the global auto industry. Quite a few are also in leadership positions, with titanic responsibilities.
dealing with a massive ignition-switch recall as soon as she sat down in the big chair, and making tough business calls, such as selling Opel, GM’s money-losing European division.
But as a whole, the business has long been thought of as a bastion of “car guys.” That’s why the news that General Motors’ CFO, Chuck Stevens, would retire and be succeeded by Dhivya Suryadevara, 39, was especially astounding.
Suryadevara was GM’s vice president of corporate finance, a responsibility she assumed last year. The Harvard MBA has provided key support to Barra in GM’s investment and mergers-and-acquisitions undertakings.
GM now has two women running the show, with Suryadevara as CFO and Mary Barra as CEO.
“Dhivya’s experience and leadership in several key roles throughout our financial operations positions her well to build on the strong business results we’ve delivered over the last several years,” Barra said.
Wall Street will get its first chance to hear from Barra and Suryadevara after September 1, when Stevens officially relinquishes his CFO duties. Barra is arguably the best CEO the company has ever had, steering the ship post-Chapter 11,
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