Whitacre's GM gambit

Former General Motors Co. (NYSE:GM) chief executive Fritz Henderson should have suspected his job was in jeopardy the moment Ed Whitacre Jr. became chairman this summer. So says Randy Gulian, executive vice president of recruitment process outsourcing and executive search for Allegis Group. Gulian specializes in senior executive placements in industries including auto and telecom, and has in the past worked with Whitacre. A former CEO of AT&T Inc. and GM's acting CEO, Whitacre is known for cutting through bureaucracy and an aggressive management style. Qualities underscored by Henderson's abrupt departure and Whitacre's Friday management shakeup (The Deal Pipeline subscription required). According to Gulian, whoever is ultimately hired as CEO must be ready for Whitacre's hands-on style. - Suzanne Stevens