Detroit General Motors Corp. is planning to announce that labor-relations chief Gary Cowger will take over for veteran executive Donald Hackworth as head of the auto maker's massive North American manufacturing operations, according to a person familiar with the situation.Mr. Cowger, 53 years old, is credited with helping GM rebuild the relationship with its biggest union, the United Auto Workers, after a bitter strike in 1998.
Mr. Cowger was called back in late 1998 to take the labor-relations job after only a few months as head of GM's Adam Opel AG European unit. Thanks in large part to his efforts, last year's national contract talks went relatively smoothly, and both GM and the UAW say their relationship is much improved.
Mr. Hackworth, 63, has been senior vice president since 1998, having worked his way up through GM's manufacturing operations. He was one of the most outspoken critics of the UAW during the 1998 strike and has taken a lower public profile in recent years.
Although GM has significantly improved its factory productivity and safety record in recent years, Mr. Hackworth has been blamed for contributing to the auto maker's lookalike styling by insisting on strict manufacturing standards.
GM now is pushing for more adventurous car designs to help reverse decades of slipping market share.
-- (The Wall Street Journal)
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