GM Elevates Baris Cetinok and Dave Richardson to Lead Software and Services Division
2024-06-03
DETROIT – General Motors has announced the promotion of Baris Cetinok and Dave Richardson to oversee its Software and Services division, reflecting the company’s commitment to innovation in electric, autonomous, and connected vehicles. Since their arrival at GM in September 2023, Cetinok and Richardson have been integral in developing vehicle operating systems, improving quality testing procedures, and establishing software as a key component of GM’s customer experience.
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GM Chair and CEO Mary Barra stated, “The path toward a technology-driven future for GM is clearer than ever, thanks to the exceptional skills of our team and the leadership of Baris and Dave. Their expertise and strategic vision, combined with extensive technical and managerial backgrounds, will further enhance our software engineering and product teams. These new roles will ensure a seamless transition towards a future where software plays a central role in our vehicles.”
As senior vice president of Software and Services Product Management, Program Management, and Design, Cetinok will be responsible for overseeing the software roadmap design and development process, from launch to ongoing enhancement. Richardson, in his role as senior vice president of Software and Services Engineering, will expand his responsibilities to lead all aspects of software engineering, including embedded platforms, digital products, commercial solutions, and ADAS. Both will closely collaborate with GM’s vehicle design and hardware engineering teams.
Cetinok brings over 25 years of experience in product management, engineering, and design from companies like Microsoft, Amazon, and Apple. During his time as senior director of Product Management at Apple, he launched various services such as Apple Pay, Apple Cash, and iCloud features like Photos, Drive, and Find My. Richardson, with a Ph.D. and master’s degree in computer science from the University of Washington, spent 12 years at Apple, leading engineering efforts for services like iCloud, FaceTime, and Siri.
Following the departure of Mike Abbott in March 2024 due to health reasons, Cetinok and Richardson will assume leadership at GM’s new Mountain View Technical Center in California.
General Motors (NYSE: GM) remains dedicated to advancing an all-electric future that is accessible to all, with the Ultium battery platform at its core. The company, along with its subsidiaries and joint ventures, offers vehicles under brands like Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, and Cadillac. For more information on General Motors and its subsidiaries, including OnStar, a leading provider of safety and vehicle technology services, visit the company’s website.