-General Motors CEO Dan Akerson will step down next month and be replaced by the automaker’s global product development chief, Mary Barra, a move that marks the first time a major U.S. automaker has been led by a woman. link
-Peter Rodger, who served as second unit director on The Hunger Games, has joined Jim and Kristin Evan’s commercial production company, Untitled.
-Social media/digital marketing agency SME Digital, which works with clients including Esurance and Humana, has brought on former Allen & Gerritsen SVP Tamsen Webster as client strategy lead.
-Production company Native Pictures has opened up shop in Chicago with EP/Leo Burnett alum Amy Jarvis Turner serving as lead.
-Energize Shanghai has launched a music video for German pizza (yes, German pizza) brand, Dr. Oetker’s new microwaveable line, Pizza Box (above).
-Project: Worldwide agency Partners + Napier has acquired Rochester-based content creation/production/VFX house Post Central.