General Motor’s group vice president Bo I. Andersson is leaving immediately to "work as CEO” at a new corporation.

Swede Bo I. Andersson, global purchasing chief, has decided to throw in the towel after more than 20 years at General Motors, the company announced on Friday afternoon.

“I have a new better job working as CEO”, he writes in an e-mail to the TT news wire, explaining that the resignation was his own decision.

At GM he was responsible for an annual budget of 600 billion kronor (€57 billion), making him one of the most high-ranking people in the organization.

"Bo has made tremendous contributions to the development of our global purchasing and supply chain strategy as we've globalized our product line portfolios and manufacturing footprint," said Fritz Henderson, GM:s President and Chief Executive Officer, in a statement.

Andersson, who joined GM in 1987 as a manager at Saab in Sweden, leaves the company to “pursue other career opportunities”. He was appointed vice president, Global Purchasing and Supply Chain in December 2001 and was appointed group vice president in 2007.