GM Board Praises CEO Akerson

General Motors Co. directors say they are pleased with the performance of CEO Dan Akerson, Bloomberg News reports.

But the three directors interviewed by the news service add that Akerson still needs to boost GM's operating margins, groom a successor and turn around the company's ailing Adam Opel.

Director Robert Krebs says Opel will close a plant when its existing labor contract expires in 2014. GM has repeatedly said it plans to reduce capacity in Europe but has not previously declared its intention to shutter a factory there.

The board members tell Bloomberg that Akerson, 63, can stay as CEO for as long as he wants. They say the CEO is helping change GM's sluggish and insular corporate culture by speeding decision making and taking an outward-looking focus.

The directors express optimism that they will be able to choose the next GM CEO from among the senior management team Akerson has assembled. He said in April he has no plans to retire soon. Akerson has identified several potential successors, including Vice Chairman Steve Girsky and product development chief Mary Barra. Analysts say North America president Mark Reuss also is in the running.