GM reshuffles government relations team

General Motors has appointed John Montford as a senior advisor to GM chairman & CEO Edward Whitacre, Jr., with Robert E. Ferguson taking on the duties of vp-government relations for the automaker.

Montford will have overall responsibility for government relations and global public policy at GM, supported by Ferguson and Michael Robinson, the current vp-environment, energy and safety policy.

Ken Cole, GM’s former vp-government relations & public policy, will remain with the company for the next several months as an advisor until his retirement later in 2010.

Montford most recently served as senior vp-state legislative affairs for AT&T, while Ferguson most recently worked as a senior strategist for the business advisory firm Public Strategies, providing strategic counsel to corporations and other organizations with a focus on international business, technology and public policy. Ferguson joined Public Strategies from AT&T, where he was president of state legislative and regulatory affairs.