Who's Where: GM Design announces major global restructuring of design executives

GM Design has announced a major reshuffle of its global leadership team, with Mark Adams, current executive director of Global Cadillac and Buick Design and GME vice president of Design, amongst the movers.

Designed to boost the emphasis of the carmaker's various brands, including Buick and Opel, the restructuring – which comes into effect on 1 September – will focus on improving joint strategies, theme development and innovation.

Mark Adams will head back to Germany to take up the position as GME vice president of Design and champion for Opel/Buick brand strategies and design language.

Current design director of Holden Design Andrew Smith has been promoted to executive director of Global Cadillac and Buick Design, replacing Adams, and will operate out of GM's technical center in Warren, Michigan. Smith's new role will see him lead the Global Color and Trim team as well as being the champion for the Cadillac brand.

Ken Parkinson, currently executive director of Global Chevrolet and GMC Design, moves to the role of executive director of Global Chevrolet Design and Architecture. Parkinson will also be the champion for the Chevrolet brand.

GM has also promoted Helen Emsley – currently design director of Interior Full-Size Truck and Performance Cars – to executive director of Global GMC Design and User Experience as well as being the brand champion for GMC.

John Puskar, currently design director of Global Color & Trim will take up Emsley's old position.

Current design manager of Buick Color and Trim Sharon Gauci will in turn replace Puskar.

Clay Dean, director of Global Advanced Design, will continue to lead Advanced Design in North America as well as being the champion for Global Advanced Design activities.

"I am confident that this alignment will continue to unite our global team around its passion for designing vehicles that make an emotional connection with customers – and our mission that every new product we develop has to be a great vehicle," said Ed Welburn, vice president of Global Design.

This is GM's second major restructuring in a year, the first of which took place last June when the carmaker announced Mark Adams, Ken Parkinson, Clay Dean, Andrew Smith and former Executive Director, North American Interiors/Global Cross Brand Design Dave Lyon would complete a tri-continental reshuffle. News broke only days before Lyon was due to take up his position that he had departed from GM Design, leaving Adams to cover both his and Lyon's new positions.

By Rufus Thompson