GM Software Division Sees Three Top Executives Exit Amid Tech Restructuring

General Motors is undergoing significant leadership changes within its software division, losing three top executives in the past month as the automaker consolidates its technology units under a unified organization led by its new Chief Product Officer.

Baris Cetinok, Senior Vice President of Software and Services Product Management, is leaving GM effective December 12, the company confirmed to TechCrunch. CNBC first reported the news.

In addition, Dave Richardson, Senior Vice President of Software and Services Engineering, and Barak Turovsky, who joined GM in March as head of AI, have also departed over the past month. Both Cetinok and Richardson joined the company in 2023. All three executives brought extensive technology experience, having previously held roles at major companies including Apple and Google.

Sterling Anderson at the Helm

These departures follow the appointment of Sterling Anderson to a newly created Chief Product Officer position earlier this year. Anderson now oversees nearly all vehicle development-related departments at GM.

A veteran of the autonomous vehicle industry, Anderson reports directly to GM President Mark Reuss and leads teams covering vehicle and manufacturing engineering, battery technology, and software and services product management. His mandate is to manage the entire lifecycle of GM’s products, spanning hardware, software, services, and user experience.

Restructuring to Break Down Silos

GM’s executive exits are part of a broader effort to eliminate silos and better integrate software development across its vehicles, including cars, trucks, and SUVs. Statements regarding each executive’s departure emphasized the company’s plan to merge hardware and software engineering, AI capabilities, and global product teams into a single, cohesive organization.

Rather than maintaining separate teams with overlapping responsibilities, GM is centralizing its technology and product efforts to streamline innovation and deployment.

New Talent and Roles

As Anderson reshapes GM’s technology organization, new hires are being introduced to strengthen capabilities. Cristian Mori, who has worked at Symbiotic, Rivian, and Boston Dynamics over the past five years, has been appointed to a newly created Chief Robotics role, marking the first time GM has dedicated leadership specifically to robotics. This role will report under Anderson’s organization.

In October, GM also hired Behrad Toghi, formerly of Apple, as its AI lead, and appointed Rashed Haq as Vice President of Autonomous Vehicles. Haq previously led AI and robotics at Cruise, GM’s self-driving vehicle subsidiary that was eventually shuttered.

Looking Ahead

With these leadership changes and strategic hires, GM is positioning itself to unify its hardware, software, and AI efforts under one umbrella, aiming to accelerate innovation and improve integration across its portfolio of vehicles.