GM Appoints New Public Policy Managers

The avalanche of corporate changes and appointments within GM continues in 2010 as well, as the American manufacturer announced the appointment of John Montford as a senior advisor to GM interim CEO Edward Whitacre and Robert Ferguson as vice president of Government Relations.

"John and Bob are proven professionals who have worked in an environment of intense regulatory and political complexity,” Whitacre said about the two. “I’ve worked with both through a number of issues over the past several years and they have my deep trust and respect. We thank Ken Cole for his years of service at GM and will continue to draw on his expertise over the coming months.”

Montford was until now senior vice president-state legislative affairs for AT&T, after previously working for Southwestern Bell (president of external affairs), the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce (chairman) and Southwest Airlines (independent director).

Ferguson moves to GM after serving as enior strategist for the business advisory firm Public Strategies. He also had ties with AT&T, where he was president of state legislative and regulatory affairs, in charge of overseeing all external and regulatory issues in the 50 states and for managing the company’s public policy organization.

Meanwhile, Ken Cole, who is currently vice president of Government Relations and Public Policy, will remain in his role until later this year. According to GM, Montford will have overall responsibility for Government Relations and Global Public Policy, and will be supported by Ferguson and Michael Robinson, vice president of Environment, Energy and Safety Policy.