Mike Abbott, the former vice president of engineering for Apple’s cloud services division, is to take up a new position as GM’s executive vice president of software, effective May 22, 2023.
Reporting directly to Mary Barra, GM’s chair and CEO, Abbott will lead a new integrated end-to-end software organization that will focus on the development of vehicle and enterprise software technologies, in addition to delivering digital services and features to the OEM’s customers.
The newly established team will combine three of the company’s software functions and will consist of teams led by Scott Miller, the vice president of software-defined vehicle and operating systems; Stacy Lynett, the vice president of information and digital technology; and Edward Kummer, the chief digital officer of digital business.
“We have entered the next phase of our technology-driven transformation focused on rapidly scaling new EV models and our Ultifi software platform, which will drive faster innovation and enable new and exciting customer experiences,” said Barra. “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.”
“I’m a product person at heart, so as the transformation of transportation quickly accelerates, I know that software is the catalyst for redefining experiences for consumers and enterprises like never before,” commented Abbott. “GM is playing a pivotal role in this shift and I’m excited to join the team and bring my experience in software to bear to not only take advantage of the massive opportunities that lie ahead for the company but to help change the world.”
Abbott previously led the development of core infrastructure for all of Apple’s cloud-based services. He has also served as a visiting scholar at the Stanford Artificial Intelligence Lab, where he focused on research in computer vision and other areas.