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Rumor: GM Eyeing Apple Exec For Its New CEO?

11 2,114 views Jan 4, 2010
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Tim Cook

Tim Cook

On Christmas Eve, we reported that General Motors had just hired Microsoft CFO Chris Liddell to be its new chief financial officer, and that he was rumored to be in the running for the CEO desk. Now, some new and intriguing chatter says that GM may in fact be looking to one of Microsoft's biggest rivals -- Apple -- to fill the CEO spot: according to BusinessInsider, GM is taking a close look at Apple's chief operating officer, Tim Cook.

The anonymous tipster had this to say: "[Interim GM CEO Edward E. Whitacre] wants the [CEO] candidate to come from a company known for operational excellence, innovation and customer satisfaction and in addition he is looking for someone that has turnaround experience." That pretty well sums up Cook, who's been second-in-command at Apple for some time, and even served as CEO during Steve Jobs' recent illness. And we know that former AT&T CEO Whitacre would like the guy because Cook was apparently one of the chief bargainers responsible for the iPhone/AT&T exclusivity contract.


At the moment, this is all just unsubstantiated gossip, but it would certainly make things interesting -- as long as Cook didn't bring too much of that Apple-think to the table.

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Comments (11)

  1. gte Posted: 1/4/2010 5:05pm PST

    New Onstar slogan will be: Just wrapped your car around a tree, theres an app for that.
     
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  2. Mac Attack Posted: 1/4/2010 5:07pm PST

    Given GM's luck with outsiders (talking about you, Zarrella), they'll get a Newton or a Cube instead of the next iPhone.
     
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  3. Insist 0.2 Posted: 1/4/2010 5:15pm PST

    If it's true, here's the question: Will he be Alan Mulally (good) or Bob Nardelli (bad)? And does he have the chops to emerge from an operational position to a truly front-line, testify-in-front-of-Congress kind of CEO? If true, all us taxpayers had better pray for positive answers to those Qs ....
     
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  4. Damien Thomas Posted: 1/4/2010 5:15pm PST

    Ex-Boeing man Alan Mulally did wonders for Ford. I think getting a non-car guy is the right way to go for GM. Someone who doesn't give a damn about nostalgia and is willing to make the hard decisions.
     
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  5. Damien Thomas Posted: 1/4/2010 5:17pm PST

    @ Insist 0.2, Bob Nardelli came into a company that was already long-dead or a prime takeover target. Chrysler was unsaveable - Nardelli just bought it time.
     
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  6. Michael Posted: 1/4/2010 5:33pm PST

    Of course they want a recruit to come from a company like Apple. The catch is that GM is damaged goods -- it's no longer the executives' Everest it once was. So it becomes a question of "Why would he want to come to Detroit?" Let's just hope against another chop-shop crony like Nardelli...
     
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  7. fb_1510606196 avatar Carl Thelin Posted: 1/4/2010 6:05pm PST

    The culture at Boeing is much like that of Ford and GM. Ditto Microsoft. The Silicon Valley culture of Apple is far from a good fit. What sets the well-selling car brands apart? Solid quality, not being cute. The SMART, with the MB engineering background does not5 compare to a practical, easy to service small car those from Asia.
     
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  8. greedo Posted: 1/4/2010 6:11pm PST

    even with the microsoft exec coming over, I don't see this Apple guy being the choice. That said, it would probably be good for GM if he did.
     
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  9. carmaan Posted: 1/4/2010 9:57pm PST

    if Tim can sprinkle some product magic on GM cars i can only see goodness out of it. I question the chances though
     
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  10. Bob Posted: 1/5/2010 1:44am PST

    Hooray! iPhone car docks for all!
     
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  11. richard avatar Richard Read Posted: 1/5/2010 3:41am PST

    I think Apple's environment of creativity and its ability to create products people REALLY want is a great thing. Its reliance on proprietary technology, however, is not so great -- and in a case like GM's it would be hard to replicate.
    _
    I'd also be slightly worried about Cook's ability to manage and promote a diverse lineup of products. For most of the past decade, Apple has focused most of its attention on one or two devices -- namely, the iPod and the iPhone. Even if you tack on the computer business, it's a far cry from managing GM's four distinct brands, each with its own family of vehicles. Not that I think the guy can't multitask, but I imagine he might bring along a bit of that highly targeted, one- or two-product focus. Then again, that might not be a bad thing.
     
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