AUTOS
From Times Staff and Wire Reports
General Motors Promotes CFO: The auto maker elevated G. Richard Wagoner to president of its all-important North American automotive operations, GM’s biggest and most troubled business unit. Chief Executive John Smith said the move, part of a slew of senior management changes approved by GM’s board, will allow him to focus on long-term strategies. The changes, which have been the source of intense speculation for several months, mark the biggest executive realignment at GM since the company’s board replaced Robert Stempel with Smith in November, 1992. GM also said it will separate its massive Automotive Components Group Worldwide from the North American operations unit.
