General Motors Naming Mary Barra As First Female CEO Paul Morigi / 2013 Getty Images For the first time in General Motors" hundred-plus year history, the automaker is elevating a woman to top executive. The Associated Press and Bloomberg, both citing an unnamed source, report that product development chief Mary Barra will succeed Daniel Akerson as CEO. A formal announcement is expected Tuesday, the AP reports. Barra, 51, began her career as a factory floor intern more than 30 years ago to help pay her tuition while she pursued an electrical engineering degree, she told Forbes. Barra currently is in charge of the engineering, design, and quality of GM's vehicles internationally. The federal government officially ended its bailout of GM on Monday by selling its remaining shares, for a total loss $10.5 billion.