Robert C. Stempel, CEO of General Motors from 1990 to 1992, died on May 7 at the age of 77. A 34-year GM veteran and acknowledged “car guy,” Stempel was ousted from his chairman’s job by what has since been described as an “ugly boardroom coup.”
When I was a young engineer at GM in the early 1970s, Stempel was already a legend within the corporation’s engineering ranks. After earning a degree in Mechanical Engineering, he joined GM’s Oldsmobile division in 1958, ultimately advancing to the role of chief engineer.
He played a key role in several engineering projects for G.M. One included designing the engine and transmission mounting systems, as well as the front suspension, for the first front-wheel drive car since the late 1930’s, the 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado. He also helped to develop the PCV (positive crankcase ventilation) valve.
As a special assistant to GM president, Ed Cole, in the early ‘70s, he led the development of the catalytic converter, which enabled a breakthrough in emissions control technology. This proved so advanced it was ultimately adopted by every OEM North America and is still at the core of that science today.
Stempel subsequently became chief engineer, then director of engineering, at Chevrolet, before stints as the head of Pontiac, Opel, and Chevrolet. During the dark days of Roger Smith’s tenure as CEO of GM, he was saddled with responsibility for the newly formed Buick-Oldsmobile-Cadillac group, before becoming president of the corporation and finally replacing Smith as CEO.
The task of Stempel in that position has been described as “fixing the mess that Smith left” – just at the time the U.S. economy took a massive downturn. Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait the day after he took office.
An impatient board of directors felt he wasn’t moving fast enough to stem GM’s mounting losses during that period – largely because he was “too nice a guy” to make the drastic job cuts necessary, according to some GM insiders – and they replaced him with John Smith in 1992. He left the company shortly after.
He was the last engineer to lead General Motors.
In a statement on his passing, GM acknowledged that Stempel, “admirably led the company during very difficult times in the early 1990s. Bob was a very popular chairman with employees, and his many accomplishments as a visionary engineer included leading the development of the catalytic converter, one of the great environmental advancements in auto history.”
Before leaving GM he initiated the development of the EV1 electric car, which partially paved the way for GM’s fuel-cell program, and recently the Chevrolet Volt.
Post-GM, he joined the battery and alternative energy firm ECD Ovonics, where he ultimately became CEO.
Robert Stempel was a visionary and consummate engineer whose contributions to the industry and society continue to benefit us all.
