GM names Girsky vice chairman, Smith to retire

* Girsky appointed vice chairman effective March 1

* Girsky to remain on GM board

* GM VP Smith to advise CFO until retiring at year end

DETROIT, Feb 22 - General Motors Co [GM.UL] said on Monday that Stephen Girsky, special adviser to Chief Executive Ed Whitacre, has been appointed vice chairman in charge of corporate strategy and business development.

GM also said John Smith, 59, vice president of corporate planning and alliances, plans to retire at the end of the year. Until then, Smith will serve as special adviser to GM Vice Chairman and Chief Financial Officer Chris Liddell.

Girsky, a former Morgan Stanley analyst who was named to GM's board in July to represent the interests of the United Auto Workers union, will take up the appointment effective March 1 and remain on the board, GM said.

His responsibilities will include corporate strategy, business alliances and new business development, GM said. Girsky, 47, was named special adviser to Whitacre after a board shakeup led to former CEO Fritz Henderson's resignation.

Girsky's compensation as special adviser to Whitacre was $900,000 per year plus expenses. Whitacre had no auto industry background before joining GM and has been relying on Girsky's advice to guide the automaker. (Reporting by David Bailey, editing by Matthew Lewis)

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