Do you think it is fair for Barra to be held responsible for mistakes made under prior CEOs? If not, then how do we hold organizations responsible once a leader departs? Was it sufficient merely to fire the fifteen lower-level employees?Today’s GM will do the right thing. That begins with my sincere apologies to everyone who has been affected by this recall, especially the families and friends [of those] who lost their lives or were injured. I am deeply sorry.*

Mary Barra, CEO and chair of General Motors, apologizing for a botched recall of 2.6 million GM vehicles that contained dangerous and deadly ignition switch defects The above quote is the public apology of Mary Barra, CEO and chair of General Motors, when she appeared before the U.S. Congress in April 2014. She was there to answer for thirteen deaths that GM says were caused by a faulty ignition switch, as well as for GM’s ten-year delay in issuing a recall for the vehicles containing this dangerous defect.