The Financial Post reports in its Saturday, April 25, edition that General Motors chief executive officer Mary Barra received $16.2-million in 2014 compensation, up 78 per cent from her predecessor's total the previous year (all figures U.S.). A Reuters dispatch to The Globe reports that most of Ms. Barra's compensation is tied to stock awards that she cannot cash in yet. She received $4.55-million in salary and other liquid compensation for 2014. Ms. Barra, 53, replaced Dan Akerson, now 66, as CEO in January, 2014. Mr. Akerson's 2013 compensation was $9.1-million. Ms. Barra was paid $5.2-million in cash and stock in 2013, when her title was executive vice-president and she headed global product development. Reuters reports that GM is now linking executive compensation more closely to performance, as other big companies have done, as it moves beyond the more restrictive guidelines it followed after its 2009 a government-led restructuring. Last week a judge ruled that GM would not have to face dozens of lawsuits accusing the car company of concealing the ignition switch defect ahead of its bankruptcy. The plaintiffs will now have to file their claims against the financially limited "Old GM."