NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Cynthia Trudell, the first woman to run a major U.S. auto company, announced Thursday that she is leaving Saturn Corp. to join the world's largest pleasure boat builder.
But she won't be leaving the volunteer state.
On April 9, Trudell will succeed William J. Barrington as president of the Sea Ray Group, a division of Brunswick Corp. based in Knoxville, about 170 miles east of Saturn's Spring Hill, Tenn., factory.
Barrington will head the US Marine Group for Brunswick, based in Lake Forest, Ill.
Trudell, 47, spent 20 years working for General Motors and in 1999 took the helm at Saturn, where she helped expand the small car subsidiary from a one-model, one-factory operation in Spring Hill to a two-factory company. The company's third vehicle, a sport utility vehicle, debuts this fall, and a fourth vehicle is believed to be in development.
"She is a talented executive and she will be missed," said Ron Zarrella, president of GM North America, in a statement issued from Detroit. He said a replacement will be named shortly, but gave no timetable.
Trudell could not be reached for comment.
Saturn spokeswoman Sue Mallino said Trudell's decision was a sudden one.
"When this opportunity presented itself, she decided she wanted to apply herself to a new challenge. We're very sorry to lose her," Mallino said. "She was instrumental in expanding our brand, while paying attention to quality, cost reduction and continuing the customer service that Saturn is known for."
Trudell was Saturn's fourth president.
The Canadian native joined GM in 1981 as senior engineering supervisor at its Windsor Transmission Plant and rose the ranks in GM's manufacturing operations. Before joining Saturn, she served as president of IBC Vehicles, a wholly owned GM subsidiary in England.
"We are extremely pleased to have an executive of Cynthia's caliber and accomplishment join Brunswick," said George W. Buckley, Brunswick's chairman and chief executive officer. "Her technical expertise, knowledge of systems and platforms, her strong brand management skills and experience with dealer channels, plus her focus on product quality, are ideally suited to make a tremendous impact at Sea Ray."