GM Executive Gerald Johnson to Retire After 44-Year Career in Global Manufacturing and Sustainability

General Motors recently announced the retirement of Gerald Johnson, its long-serving executive vice president of Global Manufacturing and Sustainability. Johnson, who has been with the company for 44 years, has made a significant impact on GM’s manufacturing operations. Taking over his role is Jens Peter (JP) Clausen, a seasoned industrial leader known for his experience in global manufacturing, product engineering, and scaling operations.

In addition to Johnson’s retirement, GM also revealed that Mike Abbott, the executive vice president of Software and Services, will be stepping down for health reasons. Abbott joined GM last May and has been instrumental in advancing the company’s software design, development, and quality testing processes.

GM Chair and CEO Mary Barra praised Johnson for his leadership and dedication throughout his tenure, highlighting his role in driving cultural transformation within the company. Johnson’s focus on leadership, process discipline, continuous improvement, and waste elimination has been instrumental in shaping GM’s manufacturing and labor relations.

As Johnson transitions into retirement, Clausen will step into the role of executive vice president of Global Manufacturing and Sustainability. With a background that includes spearheading the scaling of electric vehicle propulsion systems at Tesla’s Gigafactory 1 and leading a financial turnaround at LEGO, Clausen brings a wealth of experience in manufacturing and operational excellence to GM.

Meanwhile, Baris Cetinok, the current vice president of Product in Software and Services at GM, has been appointed as the interim head of Software and Services while a search is conducted for Abbott’s replacement. Johnson will work closely with Clausen to ensure a smooth transition as they prepare for the future of GM’s manufacturing operations.