Former General Motors chairman and CEO, Roger Smith, has died at the age of 82 after a brief illness. Smith was appointed as GM chairman and CEO in 1981 and continued in the position until his retirement in 1990. During his time with the automaker, GM introduced its first front-wheel-drive midsize cars, formed NUMMI, a joint venture with Toyota to manufacture cars in California, created Saturn, and acquired Electronic Data Systems and Hughes Aircraft Corp. Smith was also credited with laying the foundation for the EV1 program.
“Roger Smith led GM during a period of tremendous innovation in the industry.†GM Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner said today. “He was a leader who knew that we have to accept change, understand change, and learn to make it work for us. Roger was truly a pioneer in the fast moving global industry that we now take for granted.â€
Smith is survived by Barbara, his wife of 53 years; four children: Roger B. Smith Jr., Jennifer A. Ponski, Victoria B. Sawula, and Drew J. Smith; and six grandchildren.
