GM Sets Up Diversity Leadership Team

American manufacturer GM announced yet another management endeavor within its ranks, namely the set up of a so called Diversity Leadership Team. Their main task will be to create "an environment that values diversity and inclusion and enables all employees, suppliers and dealers to contribute fully to the company."

"To win in the marketplace, we have to respond to an increasingly diverse base of customers around the world. To do that successfully, we need diverse employees, suppliers and dealers who bring together a wide range of ideas, experiences, and perspectives," Fritz Henderson, GM CEO said in a release. The new Diversity Leadership team makes diversity and inclusion a focal point for our company's top executives."

The Diversity Leadership Team, headed by Mary Barra, GM vice president of Global Human Resources, will be set up as follows:

• Mark LaNeve, vice president, U.S. Sales
• Grace Lieblein, president and managing director, GM de Mexico
• Mark Reuss, vice president, Global Product Development
• Mike Robinson, vice president, Environment, Energy and Safety Policy
• Bob Socia, vice president, Global Purchasing and Supply Chain
• Kevin Williams, vice president, Service and Parts Operations

It is not yet exactly clear what the team will really do. The "diversity and inclusion strategies for employee, dealer and supplier recruitment, retention and development" can mean just about anything. Still whatever corporate decisions will be made, they will be made in cooperation with GM's employee affinity groups.

The manufacturer takes this endeavor seriously, as the team will report directly to GM's executive committee. Largely made up of just about the same people...