Caption: F. Alan SmithGM fills key postF. Alan Smith, president of General Motors of Canada, was elevated Monday to the next-to-the-top echelon of GM and entered the sweepstakes for the top job in 1990.Smith, 49, was named executive vice-president for finance, the job held by Roger B. Smith until he became chairman last week. The two men are unrelated.Men who filled GM's top finance job in the past went on to become chairman, though the outlook is less clear in the latest transition of power because Roger Smith, 55, stands to be chairman for 10 years.F. Alan Smith will sit on the key executive and finance committees of the board with the new chairman, president-designate F. James McDonald, vice-chairman-designate and Howard H. Kehrl and outside directors of GM.F. Alan Smith came up through the finance side of GM until being put in charge of the Canadian operation in 1978. GM of Canada is equivalent of a car and truck division and is essentially a manufacturing and assembly operation.Smith joined GM's treasurer's office in 1956, became treasurer in 1973 and was elected vice-president of the finance staff in 1975.Named as GM of Canada president was James R. Rinehart, 50, who has been general manager of the Packard Electric Division.Martin J. Caserio, 64, was named an assistant to the president in preparation for his retirement.Replacing Caserio as group executive in charge of electric..
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