He is reportedly angling for a seat on the GM board for one of his own lieutenants, Jerry York, a former Chrysler executive.

Bruce Watzman, senior vice President for regulatory affairs at the National Mining Association, an industry group, urged the committee not to impose increased regulation.

In China, says Mr Cescau, Unilever had three companies.Each had its own chairman, who in turn reported to two regional presidents, who answered to two members of the executive committee.