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Mary Barra


Mary Barra - General Motors



Personal Information


  • Full Name: Mary Teresa Barra (née Makela)

  • Date of Birth: December 24, 1961 (Age: 62)

  • Place of Birth: Royal Oak, Michigan, U.S.

  • Current Residence: Northville, Michigan; also owns an apartment in Downtown Detroit.

  • Family: Married to Anthony (Tony) Barra; they have two children.

  • Education:

  • Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Kettering University (1985, inducted into Tau Beta Pi and IEEE-Eta Kappa Nu honor societies)

  • Master of Business Administration from Stanford Graduate School of Business (1990)


Professional Career


  • Current Position:

  • Chair and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of General Motors (GM)

  • Chair of the GM Board of Directors: Since January 6, 2016

  • CEO: Since January 15, 2014


Career at General Motors:
  • Early Roles: Started at GM in 1980 as a co-op student, inspecting fender panels and hoods.

  • Vice President of Global Manufacturing Engineering: February 2008

  • Vice President of Global Human Resources: July 2009 to February 2011

  • Executive Vice President of Global Product Development: February 2011 (later included responsibilities for design, and expanded to Global Purchasing and Supply Chain in August 2013)

  • CEO: Succeeded Daniel Akerson in January 2014, first female CEO of a major global automaker.

  • Chair of the Board: Succeeded Tim Solso in January 2016.


Notable Achievements and Initiatives:
  • Automotive Safety Recalls (2014): Oversaw and managed the recall of 84 safety issues covering over 30 million vehicles.

  • Technological Innovations:

  • Pushed GM into the driverless and electric vehicle (EV) market through strategic acquisitions like Strobe and other EV initiatives.

  • Committed GM to an all-electric vehicle future, targeting an all EV portfolio by 2035.

  • Financial Performance:

  • Highest-paid executive among Detroit Three in 2017, with total remuneration of $21.96 million.

  • Plant Closures: Announced the closure of five North American plants and 14,000 layoffs in November 2018, drawing public criticism from then-President Donald Trump.

  • Dividend Policy: Prioritized accelerating GM’s EV plans over reinstating dividends (June 2022).


Boards and Councils


  • Current Roles:

  • Board of Directors:

  • General Dynamics

  • Disney (since August 2017)

  • Detroit Economic Club

  • Detroit Country Day School

  • Advisory and Trustees:

  • Stanford University Board of Trustees

  • Stanford Graduate School of Business Advisory Council

  • Duke University Board of Trustees

  • Homeland Security Advisory Council (appointed March 2022)


Awards and Honors


  • Recognition:

  • Fortune's Most Powerful Women: Ranked 1st in 2015 and 2017, 5th in 2018

  • Forbes’ World's 100 Most Powerful Women: Ranked 5th in 2017, 9th in 2023

  • Time 100 Most Influential People: Featured in 2014, included again in 2021

  • Forbes 50 Over 50: Inaugural list in 2021

  • Institutional Investor Top Executives: First place in autos and auto parts sector (2019)

  • Honorary Degrees:

  • University of Michigan: May 2014

  • Duke University: 2018

  • Other Honors:

  • Inducted into National Academy of Engineering: 2018

  • Yale Chief Executive Leadership Institute's Legend in Leadership Award: September 2018

  • Automotive Hall of Fame Inductee: 2023

  • Larry Foster Award for Integrity in Public Communication: 2023


Professional Interests


  • Technological Advancements: Leadership in the transition to electric and autonomous vehicle technologies.

  • Corporate Culture and Safety: Promoted safer operational practices and encouraged transparent reporting within GM.


Public Image


  • High-profile for breaking gender barriers in the automotive industry.

  • Noted for her steadfast leadership during times of crisis and her strategic vision for GM’s future in a rapidly evolving automotive landscape.


Relevant Links







This comprehensive profile should serve as a valuable resource for understanding Mary Barra’s background, professional achievements, and strategic influence at General Motors.