Automotive News reported today that Steve Girsky, who was hired last August as a special adviser to Rick Wagoner and Vice Chairman John Devine, will be leaving GM.

When Girsky joined them, Wagoner said, "His deep knowledge and experience in the global auto industry will enable Steve to contribute significantly in support of our key business strategies, including the turn-around of GM North America."

What exactly did Girsky do in that short amount of time? Did he make a difference?

We have to entertain the possibility he is leaving for simple reasons such as personal/family stuff. It may not have any meaning that deserves an 'analysis'.

Edited May 6, 200619 yr by ZL-1

The 5/5/06 Detroit News included a substantive article on Girsky's work. To read it, click here.

ZL-1: Why do you need to quote my post in its entirety when it was right above yours?

Just because I went straight for the "reply button" without changing from "+ quote" to "- quote".

Edited May 6, 200619 yr by ZL-1

Well, it looks like he's leaving for family reasons in the article. Then again, he may be taking a summer hiatus to go home, talk to the family, get moved into the Detriot area, then come back to work with GM. We will never know, but at least he did a good job while there instead of just collecting a check.

according to GM... and a few other sources...

He left because the travel from NY to Detriot took its toll on the family...

according to GM... and a few other sources...

He left because the travel from NY to Detriot took its toll on the family...

Link To Article

DETROIT (AP) - Stephen Girsky, a former Wall Street analyst who became a full-time adviser to General Motors Corp., is leaving GM after less than a year on the job, a spokeswoman for the automaker said Thursday.

Girsky's commute between his New York home and Detroit was hard on his family life, GM spokeswoman Toni Simonetti said. Simonetti said Girsky plans to leave in early June, take the summer off and then look for a position closer to home.

Simonetti also said Girsky felt it was a good time to leave GM because the automaker's North American turnaround plan is on track. GM narrowed its first-quarter loss to $323 million, down from $1.3 billion the year before.

"General Motors is a much different place than it was when he joined," Simonetti said.

GM announced late last year that it plans to cut 30,000 jobs and close 12 facilities by 2008, and since then it has offered buyout deals to all of its 113,000 U.S. hourly workers. It also sold a majority stake in its finance arm, General Motors Acceptance Corp., and reached a deal with the United Auto Workers to make retirees pay more for their health care.

Simonetti said Girsky played an important role in those actions.

"He has a knack for asking really good questions and shaking the trees," she said. "He is always going to be a good friend and great resource to the company.

Girsky worked briefly as an analyst in the treasurer's office at GM in the late 1980s before heading to Wall Street. Before Girsky came to GM last August, he served as managing director and senior analyst of Morgan Stanley's auto research team.

GM shares rose 9 cents to close at $22.58 on the New York Stock Exchange.