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Fritz Henderson resigns from GM Fritz Henderson resigns from GM
(about 1 hour later)
Fritz Henderson is stepping down as chief executive at US car giant General Motors, the company has announced. Fritz Henderson is to step down as chief executive of US car giant General Motors, the company announced late on Tuesday.
GM's chairman of the board, Ed Whitacre Jr, will serve as an interim replacement.GM's chairman of the board, Ed Whitacre Jr, will serve as an interim replacement.
The news came minutes after the end of a GM board meeting to discuss the fate of its Swedish car brand Saab. It is thought that an outsider will be brought in to replace Mr Henderson.
GM said that due to the emergence of new potential buyers it would evaluate bids for carmaker Saab by the end of December. Mr Whitacre said Mr Henderson had done a "remarkable job in leading the company through an unprecedented period of challenge and change"
GM said that if it did not find a "suitable arrangement" it would then "wind down" Saab. The next chapter
While momentum has been building over the past several months, all involved agree that changes needed to be made Ed Whitacre, General Motors Analysis: Old guard ousted The decision was made by the Board of Directors alone. The administration was not involved in the decision White House spokesman Analysis: Old guard ousted
GM did not name the potential bidders. A deal to buy the carmaker failed last week. Mr Whitacre added: "All involved agree that changes needed to be made."
A group led by Sweden's Koenigsegg Automotive dropped out of a possible takeover and this marked the third failed Saab sale this year. He assured GM's employees, dealers, suppliers, union partners and customers that it would be business as usual, with an emphasis on "a return to profitability and repaying the American and Canadian tax payers as soon as possible".
About 4,500 jobs at Saab are at stake. Mr Whitacre was brought in as chairman by the Obama administration earlier this year. having previously run telecoms firm AT&T.
New chief executive Analysts say Mr Henderson, as the right hand man of the previous chief executive, Rick Wagoner, was seen as too much part of the GM old-guard.
In a statement, Ed Whitacre commended what he described as Mr Henderson's "remarkable job in leading the company through an unprecedented period of challenge and change". Ken Elias from the car consultancy Maryann Keller said: "The reality is GM truly needs an outsider as a leader that has no attachment."
"While momentum has been building over the past several months, all involved agree that changes needed to be made," the statement continued.
Saab has not made a profit since 2001
He assured GM's employees, dealers, suppliers, union partners and customers that it would be business as usual with an emphasis on "a return to profitability and repaying the American and Canadian tax payers as soon as possible".
He said he looked forward to working with the entire GM team "as we now begin the next chapter of this great company".
The White House denied any involvement in the resignation.The White House denied any involvement in the resignation.
"This decision was made by the Board of Directors alone. The administration was not involved in the decision," a White House spokeswoman said."This decision was made by the Board of Directors alone. The administration was not involved in the decision," a White House spokeswoman said.
In March, Fritz Henderson replaced the then chief executive, Rick Wagoner, who was ordered to step down by US President Barack Obama.In March, Fritz Henderson replaced the then chief executive, Rick Wagoner, who was ordered to step down by US President Barack Obama.
Mr Wagoner had headed the company since 2000, after first joining the company in 1977.Mr Wagoner had headed the company since 2000, after first joining the company in 1977.
Who's next?
The BBC's Jorn Madslien says it could take months before the company finds a replacement for Mr Henderson.
Saab has not made a profit since 2001
"Anyone stepping into his shoes will find his pay packet curbed by presidential decree" he said.
In an agreement reached in October with the US government's "compensation czar" Kenneth Feinberg, Mr Henderson's pay was cut 25 percent to $950,000, about half of what he made in 2008.
Saab's fate
The news of Mr Henderson's departure came minutes after the end of a GM board meeting to discuss the fate of its Swedish car brand Saab.
GM said that due to the emergence of new potential buyers it would evaluate bids for carmaker Saab by the end of December.
But the firm added that if it did not find a "suitable arrangement" it would then "wind down" Saab.
A deal to buy Saab - which employs 4,500 people - failed last week after Sweden's Koenigsegg Automotive dropped out of a possible takeover. This was the third failed attempt to sell Saab this year.
Car troublesCar troubles
Earlier on Tuesday, GM released information that US sales figures for its cars and other passenger vehicles fell 2.2% from November 2008 to 151,427. In July, GM said it had emerged from bankruptcy protection after creating a "new GM" made up of the carmaker's best assets.
At the time, Fritz Henderson described it as the beginning of a "new era".
In November, the company announced that it was calling off plans to sell its other European business, Opel, along with its UK brand, Vauxhall.In November, the company announced that it was calling off plans to sell its other European business, Opel, along with its UK brand, Vauxhall.
GM had agreed to sell Opel and Vauxhall to Canadian car parts firm Magna, but changed its mind.GM had agreed to sell Opel and Vauxhall to Canadian car parts firm Magna, but changed its mind.
In July GM said it had emerged from bankruptcy protection after creating a "new GM" made up of the carmaker's best assets. Also in November, the company released figures showing that it had suffered a net loss of $1.15bn (£692.3m) in the period since July.
Fritz Henderson described it as the beginning of a "new era". On Tuesday, GM released information that US sales figures for its cars and other passenger vehicles fell 2.2% from November 2008 to 151,427.
But in November, the company released figures that it had suffered a net loss of $1.15bn (£692.3m) in the period since July.