A person briefed on the matter says General Motors' board has named product development chief Mary Barry as the company's next CEO.

The person didn't want to be identified because a formal announcement hasn't been made. An announcement was expected later Tuesday.

Barra currently is senior vice president for global product development. She's in charge of design, engineering and quality of all of GM's vehicles across the globe. She's also in charge of purchasing and had previously headed the company's human resources operations.

The 51-year-old Barra started with GM as an engineering co-op student in 1980.