Russell, George
George Russell was the second person to hold the position of vice chairman of the Board of Directors for General Motors. He held that position from November 1, 1967 until his retirement on March 31, 1970. Russell retired from GM in 1970 after 43 years of service. He continued serving on the GM Board of Directors, Finance Committee and Public Policy Committee until 1974
Born in Giffnock, Scotland, near Glasgow, on March 15, 1905, Russell graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1927, with a BS degree in business administration. He joined General Motors as a clerk in the Treasurer's Office in New York in 1927. After a number of positions and promotions on the Treasurer's Staff, he was named Treasurer of GM in 1951 and a vice president of GM in charge of Finance in 1956. Two years later he was named executive vice president in charge of Finance. He was named vice chairman of the Board of Directors in November 1967 when that position was reinstated following a 21-year absence.
As vice chairman, Russell directed GM's financial activities, Finance and Insurance Group, Industry-Government Relations and Public Relations staff. While a GM executive, Russell also served as a director and member of the executive committee of the Automobile Manufacturers Association (now the American Automobile Manufacturers Association), and treasurer and member of the executive committee of the Highway Users Federation for Safety and Mobility.
Shortly after his retirement in 1970, Russell, was awarded an honorary doctorate degree by the University of Strathclyde, Strathclyde, Scotland, an achievement of which he was particularly proud.
Thomas A. Murphy, former chairman of General Motors said of Russell: "George Russell was a dynamic leader equally respected and liked by people both inside and outside GM. His organizational and financial skills, combined with his commitment to medical research through his association at Meharry Medical College in Nashville, TN, provide us all with vivid reminders of leadership in action."
George Russell died February 21, 1996 at Palm Beach Gardens Hospital in Palm Beach, Florida. He was 90.
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