GM Names New Top Lawyer

General Motors Co. has named Craig Glidden to become its new general counsel, effective Mar. 1. He succeeds Michael Millikin, 66, who will retire in July.

Millikin's 38-year career at GM the most recent five as the company's chief counsel was tarnished at the end by GM's belated recall last year of 2.6 million defective ignition switches that have since been linked to 56 fatalities.

An independent investigation strongly criticized GM and its legal department (but not Millikin specifically) for failing to properly handle the defect. Five senior attorneys, including GM's top safety lawyer and the head of its litigation department, were later fired.

Glidden, 57, will head GM's team of in-house attorneys operating in more than 30 countries. He comes to the company from his post in Houston as chief legal officicer for Dutch plastics and chemicals giant LyondellBasell Industries NV. Previously he was general counsel for Chevron Phillips Chemical Co.