Biography
Roger B. Smith (also credited as Roger Smith or Roger Bonham Smith) was an American automobile executive who served as chairman and chief executive of General Motors from 1981 to 1990. He appears as himself in Michael Moore's 1989 documentary Roger & Me, in which the filmmaker attempts to confront him over plant closures and job losses in Flint, Michigan.
Born in Columbus, Ohio, in 1925, Smith joined General Motors after military service and rose through its financial ranks. During his tenure he oversaw major structural changes, including the creation of the Saturn division and joint ventures with Japanese manufacturers, though the company lost significant market share. He is also credited as himself in the 1985 television film Final Offer and the 1992 documentary Pets or Meat: The Return to Flint.
