Harlan Charles, a product marketing manager at General Motors (GM) and a 24-year veteran of the Chevrolet Corvette program, has left the company after 37 years of service. Charles’ departure was announced on LinkedIn, where he stated that he had been informed his time at GM was up and he would no longer be serving as the Corvette production manager. He described his departure as “retirement,” but his social media post seemed to suggest that he was let go by the company.
Charles is well-known in the Corvette community for his enthusiasm and advocacy for the brand. He was heavily involved in the development of multiple generations of the Corvette, including the current mid-engine C8 generation. His departure has been met with sadness and concern from the community, as he was a highly respected and knowledgeable executive.
The timing of Charles’ departure is curious, as it comes just months after the retirement of Corvette Chief Engineer Tadge Juechter and Corvette Exterior Design Manager Kirk Bennion. Bennion, who has been with the company since 1984, is also thought to have been let go, although GM has not officially confirmed this.
Speculation about why the three executives were let go ranges from corporate cost-cutting measures to ageist attitudes towards older employees. Whatever the reason, their departure marks a significant loss for the Corvette program, as they each brought a unique perspective and expertise to the brand.
The leadership of the Corvette program will now fall to Tony Roma, who has been promoted to executive chief engineer. Roma has a strong enthusiast background and has worked with the Corvette program in the past, but it’s unclear whether he will be able to replicate the success and passion of Charles, Juechter, and Bennion.
The departure of these three executives is a significant blow to the Corvette community, which will be missing their enthusiasm and expertise.