GM chairman and CEO Dan Akerson receives top business award

Citing his leadership in helping to guide General Motors' recovery and its strength in both US and global markets, the Executives' Club of Chicago today gave GM Chairman and CEO Dan Akerson its 2012 International Executive of the Year Award.

General Motors Chairman and CEO Dan Akerson receives the International Executive of the Year Award from the Executives' Club of Chicago Thursday, June 28, 2012 in Chicago, Illinois. The club cited Akerson's leadership in helping guide GM's recovery in both U.S. and global markets. (Photo by Tyler Mallory for General Motors)

During a moderated question-and-answer session before nearly 1,000 attendees, Akerson discussed a number of topics including GM's resurgence; record profits of 2011; global growth in China and Russia; and his role in recruiting more women to the GM Board of Directors and executive leadership team.

Previous honorees include executives such as co-founder and chief executive officer of Oracle Corporation Larry Ellison, Microsoft founder Bill Gates, the chiefs of United Airlines, IBM, Northern Trust Corp. and others.

The Executives' Club of Chicago was founded in 1911. Its board of directors is composed of 46 CEOs and senior executives of top companies headquartered in the Chicago area.