Feb 1, 2004 12:00 PM

The board of directors of Dana Corp has named Michael J Burns chief executive officer, president, and a director of the company effective March 1, 2003. Burns, who has been president of General Motors Europe since 1998, succeeds the late Joe Magliochetti, who died Sept 22, 2003.

Glen Hiner, who has served as acting chairman of the Dana board since September 2003, will continue in this role. Bill Carroll, who has been acting president and chief operating officer since September, will continue in these positions until March 1, when he will retire from Dana.

Over the past five years, Burns, 51, led a turnaround of GM's $25 billion European division that resulted in market share gains through product development realignment, quality enhancement, and significant cost reductions. He was also a member of the GM Automotive Strategy Board and was responsible for GM's worldwide quality process.