GM hires new chief spokesman

Estimated read time: Less than a minute

This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.

DETROIT (AP) — General Motors is hiring Volkswagen's top U.S. spokesman as its new public relations chief.

The company announced Monday that Tony Cervone ((Sir-VONE)) would become senior vice president of communications effective immediately.

The 51-year-old Cervone was a communications executive at GM before leaving in 2009.

Before Volkswagen, Cervone headed communications at United Airlines. He also worked at Chrysler before GM.

He succeeds Selim Bingol, who left GM last month.

Cervone developed close ties to CEO Mary Barra when they worked together in communications at GM.

Cervone rejoins GM in the midst of its recall of millions of small cars with defective ignition switches. GM's mishandling of the situation has prompted congressional hearings and investigations by government agencies. GM says at least 13 people have died in crashes linked to the problem.