• by Tanya Gazdik , May 9, 2023

General Motors has hired a formal Apple executive for its senior leadership team. 

Mike Abbott, former vice president of engineering for Apple’s Cloud Services division, will join GM as executive vice president, software, effective May 22. He will report to GM Chair and CEO Mary Barra.

As a member of the senior leadership team, Abbott will lead a new integrated end-to-end software team focused on the development of software solutions, and delivery of digital services to retail and commercial customers. 

The new team will bring together three now distinct software functions within the company: teams led by Scott Miller, vice president, software defined vehicle and operating system; Stacy Lynett, vice president, information and digital technology; and Edward Kummer, chief digital officer, digital business.

Abbott brings extensive technology industry experience in cloud computing, storage, networking and security. At Apple, Abbott led a team responsible for the development of core infrastructure for all of Apple’s cloud-based services including iCloud iMessage.

GM has entered the next phase of its technology-driven transformation, which will include “new and exciting customer experiences,” Barra says. 

“Mike's experience as a founder and entrepreneur coupled with his proven track record creating and delivering some of the market's most compelling software-defined solutions for consumers and companies make him an excellent fit at GM,” Barra says in a release.

Abbott has also led teams responsible for developing innovative, secure, and high-performance applications and services at Twitter, Palm and Microsoft.

General Motors has been offering employee buyouts in a “Voluntary Separation Program.” Deborah Wahl left the position of global CMO effective March 31. The automaker said at the time it will conduct a search to replace her, but has not yet named an executive for the position.