Mary Barra became the first female CEO of a major automaker when she took over General Motors in 2014.
Barra became GM’s CEO on January 15, 2014, succeeding Dan Akerson. Before that, she had held senior roles in global product development, purchasing, and supply-chain operations, giving her unusually broad experience across the automaker.
Her appointment was historically significant because GM was one of the world’s largest vehicle manufacturers. She later became GM’s chair as well, and her leadership has included the company’s push toward electric vehicles, autonomous driving, and software-based services.
A common mix-up is confusing Barra with executives such as Indra Nooyi or Anne Mulcahy, who led major corporations but not automakers. Another distinction: Barra was the first woman to lead a major global automaker, not the first woman ever to hold a senior executive role in the car industry.