PERSONNEL: No. 3 Man at G.M.

In a sweeping rearrangement of top management last week, General Motors Corp. moved farther away from focusing power in the hands of one man, as it had under Harlow Curtice (1953-58), and back to the broader-based management policies followed by Charles E. Wilson (1946-53). Into the No. 3 slot, under

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Frederic G. Donner, 56, and President John F. Gordon, 59, moved longtime (eight years) Executive Vice President Louis Clifford Goad, 58. In charge of G.M.’s automotive, body and assembly, and parts divisions since 1951, Cliff Goad has jurisdiction over all of G.M.’s general-staff activities: distribution, engineering, manufacturing, personnel, public relations, research and styling.

Taking over Goad’s old duties will be Sherrod E. Skinner, 62, who was elected an executive vice president. Skinner has been vice president of G.M.’s accessory group since 1951. Also promoted to executive vice president was Cyrus R. Osborn, 62, vice president of the engine group since 1950. In his new post, Osborn will boss G.M.’s engine divisions, the household appliance and electro-motive groups, and the overseas and Canadian units.