General Motors is restructuring the leadership of its global strategy and electrified vehicle units.

Pam Fletcher, currently VP of Global Electric Vehicle Programs, will take over the newly created position of Vice President, Innovation, reporting directly to CEO Mary Barra. Ms. Fletcher previously reported to Doug Parks, VP of Autonomous and Electric Vehicle Programs. Mr. Parks’s role will expand to include Fletcher’s EV responsibilities, according to an internal memo obtained by Automotive News.

Pam Fletcher

Michael Ableson, currently VP of Global Strategy, will move to the newly created position of Vice President, Electric Vehicle Infrastructure, and will report to Parks. According to the memo, Ableson will be responsible “for developing the partnerships, incentives and investments needed to create the necessary electric vehicle charging infrastructure that will remove a critical barrier to acceptance of electrification.”

Mike Ableson

Is this a net win for GM’s electrification efforts? It’s hard to say whether Fletcher’s move will mean more emphasis on EVs, or less, but the creation of an executive position to deal with charging infrastructure is surely a positive development.

So far, GM has been something of a laggard in the infrastructure department, compared to other legacy EV-makers. No major infrastructure initiative accompanied the 2016 launch of the Bolt EV. CEO Mary Barra has issued vague statements to the effect that GM will “partner, incentivize or invest to ensure charging infrastructure is available,” as Automotive News reports. However, no specific plans have been announced.

Source: Automotive News