James Michael Roche (December 16, 1906 – June 6, 2004) was an American statistician who served as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chairman of the Board at General Motors Corporation.

[3] He joined GM as a statistician in 1927 in the Chicago sales and service branch[2] and slowly worked his way up through the ranks, becoming president of the corporation in 1965.

[2] During Roche's tenure, public opinion about automobile companies was changing from praise for producing cars which allowed freedom and mobility to dissatisfaction.

[2] Roche served on the board of directors of PepsiCo, Jack Eckerd Corp., the New York Stock Exchange and other entities.

[4] Time magazine called Roche "a folksy sort who never shows his temper and whose greatest failing, according to companions and competitors alike, is that 'he may be too much of a gentleman.'