Frederick Henderson - Life and Career

Life and Career

Henderson was born in Detroit, Michigan. Henderson is a 1976 graduate of Lake Orion High School in Lake Orion, Michigan. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business and a Master of Business Administration degree from Harvard Business School. During his time at Michigan, Henderson pitched for the University of Michigan Wolverines baseball team.

Since joining General Motors in 1984, he held a number of positions with the company until 1992 when he became GMAC group vice president of finance in Detroit.

From 1997 to 2000, Henderson became GM vice president and managing director of GM do Brasil covering GM operations in Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay. Here he was successful in introducing small, inexpensive cars such as the Celta subcompact and the Meriva microvan, both produced in Brazil.

In June 2000, he was appointed group vice president and president of GM-LAAM (Latin America, Africa and Middle East) and in January 2002, he moved to Singapore as president of GM Asia Pacific where he was successful in expanding operations in Korea and China.

In 2004, Henderson was appointed chairman of GM Europe, based in Zurich, Switzerland, where he undertook substantial restructuring including significant reductions in jobs.

After becoming vice chairman and chief financial officer in January 2006, in March 2009, he became GM president and chief operating officer. At the time, the Financial Times quoted him as saying: “Being part of a turnround at GM when, frankly, many people don’t think it can be done, is exhilarating, if you like challenges. I have never had a dull day in my time at GM.”

When GM exited bankruptcy, Henderson said, "This is an exciting day for General Motors, one that will allow every employee, including me, to get back to the business of designing, building and selling great cars and trucks and serving the needs of our customers. We deeply appreciate the support we've received. We'll work hard to repay the trust, and the money, that so many have invested in GM."

On December 1, 2009, Fritz Henderson resigned from General Motors as CEO and was replaced by board Chairman Edward Whitacre, Jr., former head of AT&T Inc. who will temporarily take over as CEO while a global search for a new permanent replacement is conducted. January 25, 2010 Ed Whitacre announces he will become the permanent CEO while keeping his current chairman of board of directors role.

On February 19, 2010, GM announced that Henderson would serve as a consultant on their international operations, to be paid $709,080 per year.

On Thursday September 2, 2010, Sunoco, Inc. announced that Henderson would join the company as senior vice president, and will lead the company's SunCoke Energy unit as chairman and CEO when it is spun off in 2011.