GM throne ?!

maya   Sun Mar 30, 2008 9:48 pm GMT
what is a meaning of" GM throne" in this sentence ?!

The opening welcome from an heir apparent to the "GM throne" signaled the seminar's importance to the company...

by the way ! what about "the opening welcome"

tnx
RayH   Sun Mar 30, 2008 11:11 pm GMT
You need to provide more context here but I will take guess.

They are probably talking about the presumptive next GM CEO, or chairman of the board or whatever the title of the head honcho of GM is.
As for "opening welcome", like I said, more context.
Guest   Sun Mar 30, 2008 11:22 pm GMT
ok , it 's the whole paragraph !


The opening welcome from an heir apparent to the GM throne signaled the seminar's importance to the company and to the 3,000 employees linked to the proceedings by satellite. Punctual as ever, the 92-year-old Deming drew warm applause from the 400 on site in Detroit.
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maya   Sun Mar 30, 2008 11:25 pm GMT