He also serves on its board of directors. Wagoner has responsibility for the strategic and operational leadership of General Motors, and is chairman of its automotive strategy board.

He previously served as president and chief operating officer since 1998, and prior to that he was executive vice president and president of North American Operations since 1994. He served as chief financial officer from 1992 to 1994, and also had responsibility for worldwide purchasing from 1993 to 1994.

Born in Wilmington, Del., on Feb. 9, 1953, and raised in Richmond, Va., Wagoner received a bachelor's degree in economics from Duke University in 1975 and a master's degree in business administration from Harvard University in 1977.

Wagoner began his GM career in 1977 as an analyst in the Treasurer's Office in New York. While there, he held several positions, including manager of Latin American Financing, director of Canadian and overseas borrowing, and director of capital analysis and investment.

In 1981, Wagoner became treasurer of GM do Brasil in Sao Paulo. In 1984, he became executive director of finance for that unit. He moved to GM of Canada Ltd. in 1987 as vice president and finance manager. In October 1988, he became group director, strategic business planning for the former Chevrolet-Pontiac-GM of Canada Group.

Wagoner served as vice president in charge of finance for General Motors Europe, based in Zurich, from June 1989 to July 1991, when he was named president and managing director of GM do Brasil. In Brazil, Wagoner was credited with turning the unit around by modernizing the product lineup.

Wagoner serves as chairman of the Board of Visitors for Duke University's Fuqua School of Business, chairman of the Society of Automotive Engineers Vision 2000 Executive Committee, and on the Board of Trustees for Detroit Country Day School.