GM names first female Chief Financial Officer

Dhivya Suryadevara has been named Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for General Motors (GM), becoming the first woman in the role since the company's foundation in 1908.

Suryadevara has been vice president of corporate finance at GM for the past 11 months, having first joined the US giant in 2005, and replaces Chuck Stevens in the role of CFO.

She played a strong hand in the sale of Opel, investment in Lyft and the acquisition of self-driving company Cruise Automation in her previous position.

"Dhivya’s experience and leadership in several key roles throughout our financial operations positions her well to build on the strong business results we’ve delivered over the last several years,” said GM CEO and chairman, Mary Barra (pictured above).

Barra herself is something of a trailblazer in the automotive world, having become the first female GM CEO (and indeed, the first female CEO of a 'Big Three' manufacturer) when she replaced Dan Akerson early in 2014.

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