Kenneth J. Barrett Named GM Chief Diversity Officer

Kenneth J. Barrett Named GM Chief Diversity Officer

Newly created role underscores automaker's commitment

General Motors (NYSE: GM, TSX: GMM) today announced that Capt. Kenneth J. Barrett, U.S. Navy (Ret.), will be the automaker's first Chief Diversity Officer.

'Diversity is and has been a key component of our success including diversity of work force and diversity of customer base – it can only make us a better company,' said GM Chairman and CEO Dan Akerson. 'That's why we've created this new position and filled it with a proven leader like Ken. His strengths and track record in diversity will help us achieve the leadership position we're committed to reaching in this crucial area of the business.'

Barrett has 14 years of executive experience, including five years of award-winning performance as the U.S. Navy's Diversity Director. Before joining GM, he served as the Under Secretary of Defense's Acting Director, Office of Diversity Management and Equal Opportunity, in Washington, D.C. Prior to that, Barrett had five years of award-winning performance as the U.S. Navy's Diversity Director, where he achieved historic levels of minority and female officer additions and transformational work-life balance initiatives.

In 1984, Barrett began his career with the U.S. Navy. After commissioning through the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps, he held positions in engineering and operations.

'Ken Barrett is a strong, yet humble leader who took the Navy from being a pack player to having the most-effective diversity department in the entire federal government,' said Luke Visconti, CEO of DiversityInc. 'His knowledge on diversity issues is second to none and his experience puts him in the top 1 percent of all senior diversity executives.'

A Worcester, Mass. native, Barrett holds a bachelor's in political science from the College of the Holy Cross, a master's in national security and strategic studies from the Naval War College and an executive master's in business administration from the Naval Postgraduate School. He completed the Federal Executive Senior Fellow Program at Harvard University and is a graduate of the Armed Forces Staff College.

Under Barrett's leadership, the Navy's Strategic Diversity Working Group was selected as the nation's No. 1 Diversity Council by the Association of Diversity Councils. The Navy also was selected as the Top Federal Agency by DiversityInc. For his efforts as lead of the Navy's Task Force/Life Work, Barrett and his team were recognized with the Ted Childs Work Life Excellence Award. Other personal awards include: the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (two stars), Navy Commendation Medal (three stars) and the Navy Achievement Medal, as well as many other unit and campaign awards.

Eric Peterson, vice president of Corporate Diversity, will report to Barrett and continue the focus on GM's outreach to diverse communities. Barrett will report to Cynthia J. Brinkley, vice president, GM Global Human Resources.

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