The Chevrolet Corvette team within General Motors looks a bit different today. Harlan Charles, previously the product marketing manager for Corvette, announced on social media that he's no longer with GM after 37 years. And the decision to leave wasn't his.
His decades at the company included 24 years dedicated solely to the Corvette. He played a key role in the development of the C8 Corvette and championed many features in previous-generation models. He was among the top executives for the Corvette team, but he was also a prominent, respected voice for America's Sports Car in the Corvette enthusiast community.
Charles shared the news in a late-night post on LinkedIn, stopping short of saying he was fired but saying his "Corvette dream is over."
"After 24 years on Corvette and 37 at GM, I was informed my time is up and I will no longer be your Corvette Production Manager. I am now retired," the post reads.
A post at the Mid-Engine Corvette Forum speculates that Charles was fired for "doing the right thing" for current and future Corvette owners. Exactly what that means is anyone's guess, though threads at the forum discuss GM denying warranty claims on Corvettes that didn't have scheduled maintenance performed on time.
A Chevrolet spokesperson declined to comment on the situation when asked by Motor1, saying the company doesn't discuss personnel matters.
According to the Mid-Engine Corvette Forum, Charles isn't the only high-ranking Corvette executive to be suddenly let go. The identity of the second person is unknown at this time, but if it's true, it marks a significant shift in established leadership for Corvette within Chevrolet. Former Corvette Chief Engineer Tadge Juechter retired last summer after 18 years in the top spot. Juechter and Charles frequently attended large-scale Corvette events, and were universally loved by Corvette owners.
Juechter was succeeded by Tony Roma, who is still Corvette's engineering boss, according to his LinkedIn profile.
Sources: LinkedIn, Mid Engine Corvette Forum
