Roger Bonham Smith Chairman and CEO of General Motors Corporation from 1981 to 1990 Date of Birth: 12.06.1925 Country: USA

1. Biography of Roger B. Smith
2. Career at General Motors
3. Challenges at GM
4. Legacy
5. Departure from GM
6. Personal Life and Death

Biography of Roger B. Smith

Roger Bonham Smith was born in Columbus, Ohio. He graduated from the University of Michigan in 1947 with a bachelor's degree in business administration and obtained a master's degree from the Business School of the same university in 1953. From 1944 to 1946, Smith served in the United States Navy.

Career at General Motors

Smith began his career at General Motors (GM) in 1949 as an accountant. He worked his way up the ranks and became the company's chief treasurer by 1970. In 1974, Smith was elected as the executive vice president, responsible for finance, public relations, and government relations. In 1981, he became the chairman and CEO of GM.

Challenges at GM

When Smith took over as CEO, GM was facing numerous challenges. The company's reputation had been tarnished, lawsuits and labor issues were prevalent, and foreign automakers were gaining market share. Smith implemented various measures to address these problems, including forming partnerships with Japanese and Korean automakers, creating the Saturn division, investing in automation and robotics, and attempting to streamline the company's bureaucratic system. However, his long-term plans did not align with the overall direction of the company, and he was unable to resolve its core issues.

Legacy

Smith's tenure at GM is generally regarded as unsuccessful. The company's market share fell from 46% to 35%, and it accumulated significant debts, teetering on the brink of bankruptcy in the early 1990s. Due to these factors, Smith was labeled as one of the worst CEOs in American history by the news cable channel CNBC.

Departure from GM

Smith left GM in 1990, one year after the release of the documentary film "Roger & Me," which portrayed him as the central figure and faced calls for his resignation from disgruntled GM employees. He agreed to step down voluntarily and later relocated the Saturn factory to Tennessee, where it thrived.

Personal Life and Death

Smith was married for 53 years to his wife Barbara and had two sons, Roger Smith and Drew Smith, as well as two daughters, Jennifer Ponski and Victoria Savula. He also had six grandchildren. Smith passed away in his sleep on November 29, 2007, after a brief battle with an undisclosed illness. The exact cause of his death was not disclosed.