GM Creates Global Business Services Unit

General Motors Co. has established a Global Business Services group to simplify the back-office processes for such functions as finance, human resources, facilities and real estate.

GM says it aims to reduce the costs associated with those processes by at least 30% over the next four years.

The company has appointed Diana Tremblay, vice president of North American manufacturing, to head the new unit, starting on July 1. She will report to CFO Dan Ammann.

Tremblay's 36-year GM career also included labor relations and manufacturing stints in Belgium and the U.K. She headed the company's North American labor relations during the company's 2007 negotiations with the United Auto Workers union.

GM has not yet named a new head of North American manufacturing.