GM Names New General Counsel

Craig Glidden, 57, the chief legal officer at one of the world’s largest plastic makers, LyondellBasell Industries since 2009, becomes GM’s top lawyer job in March, commanding a team of staff attorneys spread across more than 30 countries. He replaces Michael Millikin as GM's General Counsel.

GM is still sorting the legal fallout from its faulty-ignition-switch drama and investigations - namely by the Justice Department - continue to hang over the company. The change also means the departure of one of Chief Executive Mary Barra ’s closest allies.

Barra publicly defended Millikin, 66, last year when senators called for his firing after failing to alert top leaders to out-of-court settlements being made on the company’s behalf over accident and death claims involving the faulty ignition switch.

Millikin contends he wasn’t informed of the magnitude of the problem by his subordinates. The company recalled 2.6 million vehicles and established a compensation fund, which has confirmed 56 deaths and 87 injuries tied to the ignition-switch problem. GM dismissed 15 engineers and lower-level lawyers following its own internal investigation. The dismissals were based on their failure to take action or report the problems.

Millikin announced his retirement in late-2014. He had been with GM since 1977.

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