Suave G. Richard "Rick" Wagoner Jr. heads the world's largest vehicle manufacturer, General Motors Corporation (GM). GM, which employs about 340,000 people globally in its core automotive business and subsidiaries, was founded in 1908, and has been the global automotive sales leader since 1931. GM today has manufacturing operations in 32 countries and its vehicles are sold in more than 190 countries. General Motors Corporation participates in the automotive industry through the activities of General Motors Automotive, consisting of four regions: GM North America (GMNA), GM Europe (GME), GM Latin America/Africa/Mid-East (GMLAAM) and GM Asia Pacific (GMAP). With its global headquarters at GM Renaissance Center in Detroit, its global partners include Fiat Auto Spa of Italy, Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd., Isuzu Motors Ltd. and Suzuki Motor Corp. of Japan, which are involved in various product, power train and purchasing collaborations. In addition, GM is the largest shareholder in GM Daewoo Auto & Technology Co. of South Korea. GM also has technological collaborations with BMW AG of Germany and Toyota Motor Corp. of Japan, and vehicle manufacturing undertakings with many automakers around the world, more prominently Toyota, Suzuki, Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp. of China, AVTOVAZ of Russia and Renault SA of France. GM's automotive brands are Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, Holden, Hummer, Oldsmobile, Vauxhall, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn and Opel. GMs financing and insurance operations mainly relate to General Motors Acceptance Corporation. It offers customers financial and automotive services, along with a wide array of mortgage and insurance products. GM's OnStar is the industry leader in vehicle safety, security and information services. In 2002, GM set industry sales records when it sold more than 8.6 million cars and trucks, constituting nearly 15 percent of the global vehicle market. Richard "Rick" Wagoner became the President and Chief Executive Officer of General Motors on June 1, 2000. Born in Wilmington, Delaware and raised in Richmond, Virginia, Wagoner received his bachelor's degree in economics from Duke University in 1975 and a master's degree in business administration from Harvard University in 1977. He began his GM career in 1977 as an analyst in the Treasurer's Office in New York. Subsequently he had had 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 the treasurer of GM in Sao Paulo, Brazil. 1984 witnessed him take over as the executive director of finance for that unit. Three years hence he moved on to become GM of Canada Limited as Vice President and Finance Manager. He became the 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, beginning June 1989 to July 1991, when he was named President and Managing Director of GM in Brazil. In Brazil, Wagoner was accredited with turning the entire unit by bringing about modernization of the product arrangement. The recipient of the 38th Executive of the Year honors, Wagoner is a member of the Duke University Board of Trustees, a member of the board of trustees for Detroit Country Day School, Chairman of the Society of Automotive Engineers A World in Motion Executive Committee, and a member of The Business Council and the Business Roundtable. On the personal side, this successful CEO is a keen basketball player. As on the basketball court, so in the offcie of the world's largest automaker, this team-oriented Wagoner believes in making strategic alliances, not outright acquisitions, to preserve capital and leverage the strength of partners Isuzu, Fiat, Fuji, Suzuki and Toyota. The latest fruit of GM'S long standing cooperation with Toyota is the way-cool Pontiac Vibe, shown herewith Wagoner and Toyota boss Fujio Cho. GM continues to expand its e-business frontiers -- which Wagoner believes are critical enablers for the new business model that's emerging across the industry. Though e-GM is coming up as an online car-sales tool, its broad reach and services, such as OnStar, are setting the pace. As he runs GM's business along with Smith and Vice-Chairman Harry Pearce (who heads the R&D and environmental fronts), Wagoner exudes self-confidence. "That, and his intelligence and ability to grasp complex issues, are what make him such an effective leader," observes a close friend. "He's totally secure with himself, and doesn't feel he has to constantly enhance his role in the world. He takes criticism as well as anybody I know." As a team-oriented leader, Wagoner is known to delegate both responsibility and authority. Rarely has the latter been shared among GM leadership, says Maryann Keller, Automotive Industries columnist and author of two books on GM. Since becoming CEO last June, Rick Wagoner has spent much time in the trenches, addressing many of GM's fundamental problems at their root. Wagoner is a ray of hope for GM. Undoutedly he is the right person to lead GM into the 21st century. His vision, energy, drive to succeed, create a team and ability to communicate make him a top class and strong leader and place GM where it is today.