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GM Gets New Chief Spokesman

General Motors is hiring Volkswagen's top U.S. spokesman Tony Cervone as its new public relations chief.

DETROIT (AP) -- General Motors is hiring Volkswagen's top U.S. spokesman as its new public relations chief.

The company announced Monday that Tony Cervone ((Sir-VONE)) would become senior vice president of communications effective immediately.

The 51-year-old Cervone was a communications executive at GM before leaving in 2009.

Before Volkswagen, Cervone headed communications at United Airlines. He also worked at Chrysler before GM.

He succeeds Selim Bingol, who left GM last month.

Cervone developed close ties to CEO Mary Barra when they worked together in communications at GM.

Cervone rejoins GM in the midst of its recall of millions of small cars with defective ignition switches. GM's mishandling of the situation has prompted congressional hearings and investigations by government agencies. GM says at least 13 people have died in crashes linked to the problem.

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