Mary Barra Named New CEO at GM

First female CEO of major automaker

Mary Barra, 51, has been named the new CEO at General Motors, first time a woman will hold the top job at a major automaker.

She takes over Jan. 15 from Dan Akerson. He's been CEO and chairman of the GM board since Sept. 1, 2010. Akerson, 65, said he accelerated the transition by several months, after his wife recently was diagnosed with an advanced stage of cancer.