General Motors Names Omar Vargas VP and Head of Global Public Policy
2021-07-26
DETROIT – General Motors today named Omar Vargas as vice president and head of Global Public Policy, effective Aug. 1.
Vargas was most recently senior vice president and chief Government Affairs officer for 3M Company.
“Omar Vargas brings over 20 years of experience leading public policy teams and working collaboratively to find policy solutions to complex issues,” said Craig Glidden, GM executive vice president, Global Public Policy, and general counsel. “His broad experience managing issues across multiple industries and working with governments, both within the U.S. and globally, make him the right person to advocate for policy solutions in support of GM’s vision, including our commitment for an all-electric future.”
Vargas held multiple government affairs positions at 3M between 2017 and 2021, including being named senior vice president and chief Government Affairs officer in April 2021. Prior to joining 3M, Vargas worked in government affairs at Praxair (now Linde) from 2012 to 2016, including serving as senior counsel and executive director of Government Relations.
Prior to joining Praxair, Vargas worked at PepsiCo from 2006 to 2012 in key public policy and government affairs roles.
From 2001 to 2006, Vargas held a variety of positions in the U.S. Department of Justice, appointed by President George W. Bush. His appointments included positions working on civil rights, national security and immigration.
Vargas, a New Jersey native, holds a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Seton Hall University, a Master of Arts in international law, organizations and economic development from the School of International Service at American University and a Juris Doctor from the Washington College of Law at American University.
General Motors (NYSE:GM) is a global company focused on advancing an all-electric future that is inclusive and accessible to all. At the heart of this strategy is the Ultium battery platform, which will power everything from mass-market to high-performance vehicles. General Motors, its subsidiaries and its joint venture entities sell vehicles under the Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, Cadillac, Baojun and Wuling brands. More information on the company and its subsidiaries, including OnStar, a global leader in vehicle safety and security services, can be found at https://www.gm.com.