Leroy N. Soetoro
2014-03-20 18:11:23 UTC
http://www.forbes.com/sites/joannmuller/2014/03/19/toyotas-punishment-
must-be-sending-chills-through-gms-mary-barra/?google_editors_picks=true
The timing is incredible: one week after opening a criminal investigation
into why General Motors GM -0.74% delayed issuing a safety recall on some
of its vehicles, the U.S. Justice Department showed it is deadly serious
about holding companies accountable, leveling a criminal fraud charge
against GMs biggest rival, Toyota Motor , for the very same offense.
Other car companies should not repeat Toyotas mistake, said U.S.
Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr., announcing a record $1.2 billion
penalty and three years of independent oversight of Toyotas safety
procedures. Toyotas conduct was shameful, Holder said, adding that the
carmaker intentionally concealed information and misled the public.
The punishment must be sending chills down the backs of GM executives,
especially newly appointed Chief Executive Mary Barra,who is overseeing
GMs recall of 1.6 million cars for an ignition switch problem that
surfaced more than a decade ago and is now blamed for at least 12 deaths.
Barra, in the job for two months, is about to head into the same buzz saw
that crippled Ford Motor F -0.06% in the early 2000s and Toyota in the
late 2000s government safety probes, potential criminal charges,
Congressional hearings, likely lawsuits, and of course, bad publicity.
So far, shes handling the pressure with poise and confidence, showing the
leadership skills that earned her the job as the auto industrys first
female CEO.
She has apologized repeatedly to customers while vowing to find out how
and why GMs safety review processes broke down in this case. Clearly
this took too long, she told reporters Tuesday.
She hired a prominent outside attorney to conduct an internal
investigation and told him, If there are any roadblocks, I will remove
them. She has been meeting daily with senior leaders to stay on top of
the details and make sure customers are cared for properly. And she has
assigned a top executive to oversee all safety issues, giving him a free
hand to overhaul GMs safety procedures where needed. We want to have the
most timely, efficient, accurate and responsive process, she said.
Barra also said if GM is called to testify before a Congressional
Committee, it will be me, showing she is not afraid to own up to the
expected grilling.
She has been forthright with the press, admitting GM waited too long to
act and vowing to get answers. Our goal is to make sure that something
like this never happens again, she said. But she also asked for patience,
saying the investigation could take months and that she will not act until
all the facts are known.
About the only criticism Barra deserves so far is for dodging the
important question of whether GM will assume liability for accidents that
occurred prior to its 2009 bankruptcy. As part of its bankruptcy
reorganization, a new GM was created, and most of its product liability
was left with shell of the old GM. She would not comment on suggestions
by consumer safety groups that GM establish a $1 billion victims fund to
pay for any future legal damages.
Right now were focused on getting the cars repaired and helping the
customer, said Barra, who later added, after the investigation, well do
whats right. She said GM hopes to have all of the affected cars fixed by
October.
In the meantime, she ordered a comprehensive internal safety review
following the ignition switch recall, which resulted in three new recalls
this week.
She has also been communicating regularly with employees one of the
leadership knacks for which she is known and imploring them to always
put customers first.
Something went wrong with our process in this instance, and terrible
things happened, she said in a video message to employees earlier this
week. As a member of the GM family and as a mom with a family of my own,
this really hits home for me, she told them.
I want you to know that we are completely focused on the problem at the
highest levels of the company. We are putting the customer first and that
is guiding every decision we make. That is how we want todays GM to be
judged. How we handle the recall will be an important test of that
commitment, she said.
We will be better because of this tragic situation if we seize the
opportunity.
Toyota certainly is a better company today as a result of its own safety
crisis five years ago. The company suffered major hits to its reputation,
but managed to rebuild trust by enhancing its quality control procedures
and responding more quickly to customer concerns. It also gave regional
leaders more autonomy to speed decision-making. Today, with record profits
expected, it is back on the offensive.
As she heads into the buzz saw, Mary Barra should keep that in mind, too.
--
Barack Obama, reelected by the dumbest voters in the history of the United
States of America.
Eric Holder, racist black murdering United States Attorney General, still
has his job.
Nancy Pelosi, Democrat criminal, accessory before and after the fact to
improper vetting of Barry Soetoro aka Barack Hussein Obama, a confirmed
felon using SSAN 042-68-4425, belonging to a dead man.
Obama ignored the brutal killing of an American diplomat in Benghazi, then
relieved American military officers who attempted to prevent said murder
in order to cover up his own ineptitude.
Obama continues his goal of disarming America while ObamaCare increases
insurance premiums 300% and leaves millions without health care.
Obama backed the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt prior to their removal for
failing to represent the people and constitutional violations.
--- news://freenews.netfront.net/ - complaints: ***@netfront.net ---
must-be-sending-chills-through-gms-mary-barra/?google_editors_picks=true
The timing is incredible: one week after opening a criminal investigation
into why General Motors GM -0.74% delayed issuing a safety recall on some
of its vehicles, the U.S. Justice Department showed it is deadly serious
about holding companies accountable, leveling a criminal fraud charge
against GMs biggest rival, Toyota Motor , for the very same offense.
Other car companies should not repeat Toyotas mistake, said U.S.
Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr., announcing a record $1.2 billion
penalty and three years of independent oversight of Toyotas safety
procedures. Toyotas conduct was shameful, Holder said, adding that the
carmaker intentionally concealed information and misled the public.
The punishment must be sending chills down the backs of GM executives,
especially newly appointed Chief Executive Mary Barra,who is overseeing
GMs recall of 1.6 million cars for an ignition switch problem that
surfaced more than a decade ago and is now blamed for at least 12 deaths.
Barra, in the job for two months, is about to head into the same buzz saw
that crippled Ford Motor F -0.06% in the early 2000s and Toyota in the
late 2000s government safety probes, potential criminal charges,
Congressional hearings, likely lawsuits, and of course, bad publicity.
So far, shes handling the pressure with poise and confidence, showing the
leadership skills that earned her the job as the auto industrys first
female CEO.
She has apologized repeatedly to customers while vowing to find out how
and why GMs safety review processes broke down in this case. Clearly
this took too long, she told reporters Tuesday.
She hired a prominent outside attorney to conduct an internal
investigation and told him, If there are any roadblocks, I will remove
them. She has been meeting daily with senior leaders to stay on top of
the details and make sure customers are cared for properly. And she has
assigned a top executive to oversee all safety issues, giving him a free
hand to overhaul GMs safety procedures where needed. We want to have the
most timely, efficient, accurate and responsive process, she said.
Barra also said if GM is called to testify before a Congressional
Committee, it will be me, showing she is not afraid to own up to the
expected grilling.
She has been forthright with the press, admitting GM waited too long to
act and vowing to get answers. Our goal is to make sure that something
like this never happens again, she said. But she also asked for patience,
saying the investigation could take months and that she will not act until
all the facts are known.
About the only criticism Barra deserves so far is for dodging the
important question of whether GM will assume liability for accidents that
occurred prior to its 2009 bankruptcy. As part of its bankruptcy
reorganization, a new GM was created, and most of its product liability
was left with shell of the old GM. She would not comment on suggestions
by consumer safety groups that GM establish a $1 billion victims fund to
pay for any future legal damages.
Right now were focused on getting the cars repaired and helping the
customer, said Barra, who later added, after the investigation, well do
whats right. She said GM hopes to have all of the affected cars fixed by
October.
In the meantime, she ordered a comprehensive internal safety review
following the ignition switch recall, which resulted in three new recalls
this week.
She has also been communicating regularly with employees one of the
leadership knacks for which she is known and imploring them to always
put customers first.
Something went wrong with our process in this instance, and terrible
things happened, she said in a video message to employees earlier this
week. As a member of the GM family and as a mom with a family of my own,
this really hits home for me, she told them.
I want you to know that we are completely focused on the problem at the
highest levels of the company. We are putting the customer first and that
is guiding every decision we make. That is how we want todays GM to be
judged. How we handle the recall will be an important test of that
commitment, she said.
We will be better because of this tragic situation if we seize the
opportunity.
Toyota certainly is a better company today as a result of its own safety
crisis five years ago. The company suffered major hits to its reputation,
but managed to rebuild trust by enhancing its quality control procedures
and responding more quickly to customer concerns. It also gave regional
leaders more autonomy to speed decision-making. Today, with record profits
expected, it is back on the offensive.
As she heads into the buzz saw, Mary Barra should keep that in mind, too.
--
Barack Obama, reelected by the dumbest voters in the history of the United
States of America.
Eric Holder, racist black murdering United States Attorney General, still
has his job.
Nancy Pelosi, Democrat criminal, accessory before and after the fact to
improper vetting of Barry Soetoro aka Barack Hussein Obama, a confirmed
felon using SSAN 042-68-4425, belonging to a dead man.
Obama ignored the brutal killing of an American diplomat in Benghazi, then
relieved American military officers who attempted to prevent said murder
in order to cover up his own ineptitude.
Obama continues his goal of disarming America while ObamaCare increases
insurance premiums 300% and leaves millions without health care.
Obama backed the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt prior to their removal for
failing to represent the people and constitutional violations.
--- news://freenews.netfront.net/ - complaints: ***@netfront.net ---