Senior GM official to head auto parts maker Magna

DETROIT, Aug 19, 2004; Reuters reported that a longtime executive at General Motors Corp. is leaving the company to head Canadian auto parts maker Magna International a source familiar with the situation said on Thursday.

He said Magna's board was expected to approve the appointment of Mark Hogan as its new president and chief executive before the end of the week.

"It's pretty much a done deal. They just need the formality of getting the board to approve it," said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Hogan, GM's group vice president for advanced vehicle development, began his career at the world's largest automaker more than 30 years ago.

He would replace Belinda Stomach, who resigned in January to launch a political career, as head of the fast-growing Aurora, Ontario-based, auto parts supplier.

Hogan, 53, had been seen as a possible successor to 72-year-old Robert Lutz, the outspoken auto industry veteran who joined GM three years ago and serves as vice chairman for product development.

The reasons for Hogan's defection to Magna were not immediately clear. But it could create an opening on GM's senior management team for Wolfgang Bernhard, the former chief operating officer at DaimlerChrysler's Chrysler division.

Bernhard, 43, was a rising star at the German-American automaker and had been tapped to run its Mercedes-Benz division prior to his sudden dismissal in May. Detroit has been awash with rumors about him landing a top job at GM ever since.

A Magna spokesman was not immediately available for comment. Hogan would be the second top GM official to leave this year and move on to head one of the world's largest auto parts makers.

Mike Burns, the former head of GM's European operations, stepped down in February to take over as CEO of Toledo, Ohio-based, Dana Corp.