Look at the cars GM has come out with in the past few years, think of the "really good" ones... almost all were championed by Bob Lutz, who from wikipedia
...is also known as a collector of classic automobiles and military jets. Among other aircraft, he owns and pilots a Aero Vodochody L-39, an advanced Czechoslovakian jet fighter trainer. Further, he maintains a collection of motorcycles that include a Suzuki Hayabusa, a BMW K1200RS, a BMW K1200S, a BMW R1100S, and a BMW K-1.
Contrast this with Fritz Henderson, where the most interesting information I can find is that he was a pitcher for the Wolverines.
Again from Wikipedia
While at General Motors, Lutz championed the import of the Holden Monaro to the United States as the Pontiac GTO. Other cars such as the Cadillac Sixteen Concept; Saturn Sky and Pontiac Solstice; Pontiac G8; Chevrolet Malibu; Cadillac CTS; Buick Enclave; Cadillac Converj Concept; Cadillac CTS Coupe Concept; Chevrolet Camaro Concept; Chevrolet Camaro (production version); Chevy Beat, Groove and Trax Concept Studies; and 2010 Buick Lacrosse, Chevrolet Equinox, and Cadillac SRX are said to be Lutz initiatives.
That's 10 great, competition beating, cars/suvs all highly rated by the automotive press. The G8 is consistently reviewed against $60,000 BMW's not other $30,000 sedans, the Solstice/Sky have outsold the Mazda Miata every year they've been for sale, the Camaro has sold over 5,000 units in one month with no incentives. The GTO, while a sales failure was a great car, and proved that global platform architecture was feasible.
Henderson? Well I can't find any reference to him being involved in the design or production of any cars...
So who gets promoted, and who retires? Of course Lutz may not have had any interest in the CEO job.. maybe he really is ready to retire and move on, and enjoy those classic cars and jets. But he's not the only "car guy" in the world, and I'll bet not the only one with an MBA, and a good business sense.
