By Mike Colias, Crain News Service DETROIT (March 19, 2014) — General Motors Co. has created global safety czar position to "quickly identify and solve product safety issues," as the company continues to grapple with a crisis touched off by last month's recall of 1.6 million cars for a faulty ignition switch. Jeff Boyer, 58, will become vice president of global vehicle safety, effective immediately, GM said in a statement March 18. The 40-year GM veteran will oversee all GM product recalls, as well as safety development of vehicle systems. GM joins Ford Motor Co. as the only other major auto maker with a vice president of safety, according to an Automotive News listing of industry executives. Mr. Boyer has been executive director of engineering operations and systems development since 2011.