According to GM, the changes will ''align it more closely with the company's brands across its network of 10 Design Centers around the world.''
View full sizeGM Vice President for Global Design, Ed Welburn announced Global Design organization changes effective August 1, 2012 to create more brand-focus and stronger Advanced Design capabilities. Welburn is shown during the reveal of the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1.DETROIT, MI- Prior to officially celebrating its 85th anniversary later this month, General Motors Co.’s design team today announced a revised organizational structure and executive appointments.
According to GM, the changes will “align it more closely with the company’s brands across its network of 10 Design Centers around the world.”
“This new structure provides a foundation to build and grow the design language for each of our brands moving forward,” said Ed Welburn, GM vice president for Global Design, in a statement. “It gives our design teams a greater opportunity to create products and brands that have an emotional connection with our customers and that continue to move our company forward.”
The brand-focused strategy is consistent with comments previously made by GM CEO and Chairman Dan Akerson. Since taking over the company's reins in September 2010, Akerson has consistently said GM's best chance to grow is by growing its brands.
The new structure and executive appointments are effective Aug. 1, according to GM. The following executives will report to Welburn:
- Ken Parkinson, currently executive director, North American Exterior Design/Global Architecture Strategy and Chevrolet “Brand Champion,” is appointed executive director of Global Chevrolet and GMC Design.
- Mark Adams, currently vice president of GM Europe Design and “Brand Champion” for Opel/Vauxhall, will relocate to Warren and is appointed executive director of Global Cadillac and Buick Design.
- David Lyon, currently executive director of North American Interiors/Global Cross-Brand Design and Buick/GMC “Brand Champion,” will relocate to Russelsheim, Germany and is appointed vice president of GME Design, with an emphasis on growing the Opel/Vauxhall brand. Lyon will sit on the leadership team of Karl-Friedrich Stracke, president of GM Europe and CEO of Opel/Vauxhall.
- Clay Dean, currently director of North American Advanced Design and Cadillac “Brand Champion,” is appointed to the new position of director of Global Advanced Design. Dean will serve as the lead integrator and coordinator of all Advanced Design activity around the world.
- Bryan Nesbitt, vice president of GMIO Design and “Brand Champion” for Wuling and Baojun, will continue to serve as the lead voice for Design in the GMIO region and focus on developing and growing the company’s operations in China and India. Nesbitt will continue to sit on GMIO President Tim Lee’s leadership team.
- Mike Simcoe, executive director of GMIO Design and “Brand Champion” for Holden, will continue to focus on developing and growing the company’s operations in Korea and Australia.
- Carlos Barba, executive director of GM South America Design, will continue in his leadership role of GM Design in Brazil.
- Teckla Rhoads, director of Global Industrial Design, will continue to lead the global responsibility of Industrial Design.
- Mark Leavy, executive director of Global Design Operations, will continue in his current leadership role.
On June 23, 1927, the GM Executive Committee approved the creation of a new department to “study the question of art and color combinations in General Motors products” and hired Harley Earl, a custom coach builder from Hollywood and the creator of the 1927 LaSalle, as its leader.
The Detroit-based automaker employs more than 1,900 people across its 10 global design centers that are working on redesigning/replacing 70 percent of the automaker’s vehicle portfolio within the next three years.