General Motors today announced that Nick Cyprus, vice president, chief accounting officer and controller, has decided to retire after a 36-year career, effective July 15.

Cyprus was named chief accounting officer and controller in December 2006. In August 2009, he assumed the additional role of vice president. Before joining GM, Cyprus held senior executive positions at The Interpublic Group of Companies and AT&T, and held management positions at Hess, Suburban Propane, and PwC.

Thomas Timko will replace Cyprus, effective March 18. Timko most recently served as corporate vice president, chief accounting officer, and corporate controller at Applied Materials since March 2010. In this role, he led the financial due diligence and integration for a multi-billion dollar acquisition, developed the company's consolidated strategic and annual operating plans, established shareholder and analyst guidance and streamlined internal systems and processes to leverage a shared services environment and improve stakeholder service. Timko also was responsible for all technical accounting policies and procedures, internal controls and external reporting to ensure the highest level of compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley and U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.

Prior to Applied Materials, Timko was chief accounting officer and controller with Delphi Automotive from 2006 to 2010. He served as assistant controller for The Interpublic Group of Companies from 2004 to 2006 and at Dover Corp. from 2002 to 2004. Timko began his career with PwC in 1991.