GM Creates Vehicle Safety Job In Wake Of Recall Questions

By Joan Muller

General Motors GM +1.56%, which is under scrutiny for its handling of a faulty ignition switch linked to at least 12 deaths, has named  a new vehicle safety chief to ensure product safety issues are quickly identified and resolved in the future.

GM chief executive Mary Barra named Jeff Boyer, a 40-year engineering veteran, to the newly created position of Vice President, Global Vehicle Safety, effective immediately. He will have global responsibility for the safety development of GM vehicle systems, and will be in charge of validating GM cars’ safety performance and overseeing recalls and other safety-related issues after vehicles are sold. Boyer will provide regular and frequent updates on vehicle safety to Barra, senior management and the GM board of directors, the company said.

“Jeff’s appointment provides direct and ongoing access to GM leadership and the board of directors on critical customer safety issues,” said Barra. “This new role elevates and integrates our safety process under a single leader so we can set a new standard for customer safety with more rigorous accountability. If there are any obstacles in his way, Jeff has the authority to clear them. If he needs any additional resources, he will get them.”

Creation of the new safety post comes one day after GM announced the recall of 1.55 million vans, sedans and sport-utility vehicles, citing concerns over brakes, seat belts and air bags. Those recalls, along with last month’s recall of 1.6 million Chevrolet Cobalts and other models for the ignition switches, will cost the automaker about $300 million in the first quarter, GM said.

GM is facing investigations by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Congress and the U.S. Justice Department over why it didn’t recall the Cobalts and other vehicles when it first became aware of issues with the cars’ ignition switches.

Boyer’s appointment is intended to ensure such issues don’t avoid detection in the future. He will report to John Calabrese, Vice President of Global Vehicle Engineering and become a member of Global Product Development staff, led by Mark Reuss, Executive Vice President, Global Product Development, Purchasing and Supply Chain.

Boyer began his GM career in 1974, as a co-op student and has held several senior engineering, safety and process leadership positions, including the role of a total vehicle integration engineer. His most recent position since 2011 was Executive Director of Engineering Operations and Systems Development. Before that, Boyer served as Executive Director of Global Interior Engineering and Safety Performance where he was responsible for the performance and certification of GM vehicle safety and crash-testing. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Kettering University and a Masters Boyer began his GM career in 1974, as a co-op student and has held several senior engineering, safety and process leadership positions, including the role of a total vehicle integration engineer. His most recent position since 2011 was Executive Director of Engineering Operations and Systems Development. Before that, Boyer served as Executive Director of Global Interior Engineering and Safety Performance where he was responsible for the performance and certification of GM vehicle safety and crash-testing. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Kettering University and a Masters of BusinessAdministration from Michigan State University.of BusinessAdministration from Michigan State University.