Rick Wagoner, who on Tuesday was named the next chairman of General Motors Corp., is scheduled to speak at North Carolina State University on Thursday, Dec. 5, as part of the College of Management's Wachovia Executive Lecture Series.

Wagoner's speech, which will focus on the industrial revival at GM, will take place at 4 p.m. in 3400 Nelson Hall. The lecture is free and open to the public.

Wagoner is currently the giant automaker's chief executive officer, a position he has held since June 2000. General Motors announced Tuesday that Wagoner would succeed Jack Smith as chairman when Smith retires in May 2003.

The 49-year-old Wagoner is the youngest person to serve as CEO of General Motors since 1923. He has been with the company since 1977, and held a number of executive positions around the world - including vice president of finance for GM Europe and president and managing director of GM's Brazilian division - before coming back to the United States in 1992 as executive vice president and chief financial officer.

General Motors is the world's largest vehicle manufacturer, and employs about 355,000 people around the world.

Wagoner hold's a bachelor's degree in economics from Duke University and an MBA from Harvard University.

To help generate awareness among NC State's students of Wagoner's visit, local car dealership Sir Walter Chevrolet will be placing, weather permitting, a new Corvette and a new Avalanche on display around Nelson Hall on Thursday. The dealership is owned and run by George Anderson, a 1977 NC State business alumnus.
The Wachovia Executive Lecture Series brings senior executives to the College of Management to share their experience and knowledge with faculty, staff and students. Other speakers this semester included Ken Thompson, president and CEO of Wachovia, and Jim Cain, former president of the Carolina Hurricanes.
Wagoner's visit to NC State will also include a dinner address to members of the Supply Chain Resource Consortium at the College of Management. The consortium has 11 corporate members, including General Motors, that support student and faculty research and share information about supply chain management issues.

Posted December 4, 2002

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