評論
打印
Business
商業報道
GM's next boss
GM的下任老板
Detroit's first lady
底特律第一夫人
The car giant's new boss is not only a woman but a car guy
這家汽車巨頭的新老板雖是女性卻還是個汽車人。
IT MAY look like a firm stuck in one gear: General Motors' market share in America, at around 18%, has not shifted in a while.
看起來，這家公司是陷入了僵局：通用汽車在美國的市場占有率已經在很久都沒有變化了。
But on December 10th its announcement that in January Mary Barra will take the wheel to become one of the most powerful executives in the car industry, and indeed corporate America, signals a shift up through the cogs.
但是在12月10日，該公司宣布在一月，Mary Barra將掌管公司。這使她成為了汽車業，也是全美國最有權勢的執行人之一，標志著汽車行業的一次重要轉變。
Three years ago she became one of the highest-ranking women in the business when she was named head of global product development at GM.
三年之前被任命為GM全球產品發展部主管的時候，她就已經成為了商業界排名榜首的幾位女性之一。
Almost as striking as the fact that she will now take the top job in what has traditionally been a male environment is that she is a genuine car guy.
和她即將在傳統上都是男性文化充盈的環境中掌權一樣令人驚奇的事實是她是個正宗的汽車人。
In some respects this is a step backwards for GM.
從某些方面上說，這個舉措對GM來說是一種讓步。
She is a company woman who has spent her entire career working for the carmaker.
Mary Barra成長于公司內部，整個職業生涯都在這家汽車制造商中渡過。
Dan Akerson, GM's current chairman and chief executive, who retires next year, came to Detroit from other industries, as did his counterparts at Ford and Chrysler.
將在明年退休的GM現任主席及首席執行官Dan Akerson是從其他行業轉投底特律的，福特、克萊斯勒的老板也是如此。
That was a big change for a business distrustful of outsiders but in need of a new approach to leadership to oversee the turnaround of America's carmakers after the ravages of a financial crisis and a crippling recession.
對這個外界充滿懷疑的行業來說，這絕對是一個大變化，同時這個行業也急需一種新的方式來帶領美國汽車制造業扭轉金融危機造成的破壞和走出目前的衰退情境。
As Mr Akerson noted, the new GM that emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2009 is run very differently from the way the giant carmaker was managed in the past.
如Akerson先生所說，在2009年后根據聯邦破產法第11章的破產保護而重組以來，新GM的運營方式同過去相比已經非常不同了。
When asked how Ms Barra might fare in a company known for its old-boy mentality, Mr Akerson insisted that the perception is quite dated.
當被問到Barra女士在這個以男性文化聞名的公司中會遇到什么問題時，Akerson堅持說這種觀念已經非常過時了。
During close to four years of leadership, Mr Akerson has concentrated on building teams rather than the top-down management of old.
在將近4年的領導過程中，Arkerson專心于建設管理團隊而不是同過去一樣采用由上至下的管理模式。
But as a former military man his brusque demeanour may have tempered his ability to resist ordering people around.
但是作為一位前軍隊人員，Arkerman直率的舉止
Ms Barra is likely to take a more conciliatory approach.
看起來Barra女士會采取一種更加中庸的做法。
Mary is a coach, and that's the sort of management style this company needs, says David Cole of the Centre for Automotive Research.
Mary就像教練一樣，這正是這家公司需要的管理方式。汽車研發中心的David Cole說道。
She was certainly groomed for the role.
她當然為這個角色修飾打扮過。
She is part of a generation of women targeted by GM to achieve great things.
Barra是GM認定將會作出一番成就的一代女性中的一個。
The firm, embarrassed by its macho culture, has made a big effort to bring on female talent.
這家為男性文化的公司為招攬女性人才作出的很大努力。
Indeed, the carmaker now has a fast-growing cadre of top managers who are women; there are five more on its executive committee as well as Ms Barra.
實際上，這家汽車制造商中女性高層骨干也在快速增加；在它的執行委員會中還有5名同Barra一樣的女士。
A quarter of its factory managers are female.
其工廠經理中1/4是女性。
A woman runs the crucial electric-vehicle programme.
至關重要的電動汽車項目也由一名女性領導。
GM will also benefit from Ms Barra's skills as a product person.
GM還會因Barra女士從事產品工作的經歷而受益。
She is an engineer who knows cars inside out.
她是一位對汽車了如指掌的工程師。
Mr Akerson leaves on an upbeat note.
Arkerson先生留下的一副樂觀的景象。
The carmaker's recent profits have exceeded expectations, its share price has risen sharply in recent months and many of its latest models are widely praised for engineering, design and quality.
這家汽車制造商的近期利潤已經超過了預期，它的最近股價也是一路飆升，新推出的車型中多款都在工程、設計和質量上飽受贊譽。
The new Chevrolet Impala was cited as the best saloon ever tested by Consumer Reports, an influential magazine.
新型的雪佛蘭英帕拉被很有影響的雜志《消費者報告》稱為測試過的最好的轎車。
Still, Mr Akerson warns that as far as we've come, we've got to go that far again.
然而Arkeson先生警告說盡管我們已經有了一些成績，我們需要盡力做到更好。
There is plenty more room for improvement.
發展的空間還很大。
Other models in GM's range are in need of the makeover she has already given to the Chevrolet Malibu and the company's range of pick-up trucks.
GM的其他車型也需要Barra女士給雪佛蘭邁銳寶以及皮卡車所帶來的那種改變。
Successive bosses have failed to fix Opel, GM's loss-making European arm.
連續幾任老板都沒能改變其在歐洲不斷虧損的分支—歐寶。
And the important Chinese market appears to be slowing.
而且至關重要的中國市場進展緩慢。
Ms Barra has to make sure that she keeps improving GM's line-up of vehicles if it is to take on Ford and Toyota.
Barra女士需要繼續提高GM旗下的各款車輛來對抗福特和豐田。
