Mike Simcoe, who joined Holden in 1983, will take up the role of vice president of GM global design in May, replacing Ed Welburn, who retires in July.
He will be GM’s seventh design leader and the first non-American to hold the position.
“I am incredibly proud and humbled to be offered this dream role,” Simcoe said in a statement on Friday.
Welburn, 65, has led GM Design since 2003, and globally since 2005, the first African American to lead an automaker’s international design team.
Welburn oversaw the development of a network of GM design centres across seven countries, including Australia.
Mike Simcoe. Photo: AAP/Holden
In a statement, GM said Simcoe joined the company in 1983 as a designer at Holden in Australia, and is Holden’s brand champion.
In 1995, he became director of Design for GM Asia Pacific and in 2003, was named executive director of Asia Pacific Design.
The following year, he became executive director of North American Exterior Design.
“More recently, he led the team responsible for the award-winning Buick Avenir Concept. Last month, he introduced the Chevrolet Colorado Xtreme and Trailblazer Premier show cars at the Bangkok International Motor Show,” GM said.
– with AAP
