LaNeve said in an e-mail it was a difficult decision to leave.

"It is very emotional to leave the great folks I have worked with and the dealers who have supported me and GM. It has been my honor to work with these people," he said, declining to disclose where he will be working next. "The new company wants to make an announcement in the next couple days. It's nonautomotive and a great opportunity for me."

Henderson said GM was "open to bringing in outside talent" but that the company needed to get approval from the Treasury Department for its pay procedures. Before the company can bring in new people, the company needs to be able to explain how it will pay them, Henderson said.

He also addressed reports that Chief Financial Officer Ray Young will be leaving GM but refused to say whether a change was pending.

"Ray's our CFO," Henderson said. "There are a lot of rumors in the press. I'm not going to comment any further."