By Carol Hymowitz
The Wall Street Journal, December 11 '06
(excerpt)

Mr. [Rick] Wagoner, [CEO of General Motors], who still faces plenty of challenges, including fixing GM's unprofitable U.S. businesses, also withstood pressure from billionaire investor Kirk Kerkorian to forge an alliance with Japan's Nissan Motor and France's Renault. (Mr. Kerkorian, in a rare retreat, recently sold his nearly 10% stake in GM.) "A year ago, Rick Wagoner couldn't do anything right, but now he's on the ascension," says Michael Mankins, managing partner at consultant at Marakon Associates.