GM Taps Purchasing Chief to Head Global Quality

General Motors Co. has named Grace Lieblein, previously head of global purchasing and supply chain, to take over as vice president of global quality.

The move comes a month after GM's Cadillac, Chevrolet and GMC brands scored below average in the latest reliability survey by Consumer Reports. Only Buick, which outperformed all other domestic brands, ranked above average.

The global quality function, along with GM's customer experience group, previously was headed by Alicia Boler-Davis. Her new assignment is to lead the company's Global Connected Customer Experience unit, which oversees the company's OnStar wireless services and its call centers worldwide.

Both women will report to CEO Mary Barra.

Succeeding Lieblein as head of global purchasing and supply chain is Steve Kiefer, who had been vice president of global powertrain. Kiefer will report to Mark Reuss, executive vice president of global product development, purchasing and supply chain.

Dan Nicolson, previously executive director of powertrain embedded controls, succeeds Kieffer.