General Motors Names New OnStar President

Following the leadership changes it announced yesterday, General Motors stepped in front of the media one more time to reveal that Linda Marshall will be the new OnStar president starting February 1, 2011. Marshall will thus replace J. Christopher Preuss who decided to leave the company to launch a communications consultancy practice. The new OnStar president will report directly to Stephen J. Girsky, vice chairman, corporate strategy and business development.

"As we continue to evolve the OnStar brand and bring new features to our customers, we believe Linda’s deep experience can take the brand and platform to the next level,” Girsky said in a statement. “Over the past year, Chris was instrumental in helping create a clear vision and strategy for aligning OnStar with GM infotainment plans and entering the retail market. We thank Chris for his many contributions to GM and wish him every success.”

Christopher Preuss helped OnStar achieve some of the most important milestones in its history, including its 15th anniversary and becoming the number one service of its kind in China.

Furthermore, Preuss was the first who applauded OnStar for receiving the second prize in the Edison Awards technology category in May 2010. OnStar's Stolen Vehicle Slowdown System (SVS) was considered by the Edison Awards Jury one of the "Best New Products of the Year".

“Stolen Vehicle Slowdown is a prime example of the rapid pace of innovation underway at OnStar,” Chris Preuss said in May when he was handed the award. “We are developing services that not only keep our subscribers safe, but virtually everyone on the road as well.”