GM's Chief Designer to Step Down This Summer
General Motors’ chief designer is retiring from the automaker after a 42-year career. Michael Simcoe will step down on July 1 this year and will be succeeded by the executive director of Global Cadillac Design.
Bryan Nesbitt will step into the role in July, making him only the eighth GM design chief in almost 100 years. GM President Mark Reuss said, “Michael is a visionary designer and leader. He has elevated automotive design not just at GM, but the world over. Under his leadership, GM Design has created a stunning vehicle portfolio that customers love. His focus on the customer, keen eye for detail, and an emphasis on the future made Michael everything we could have asked for in a chief designer.”
Reuss also said the automaker is looking forward to Nesbitt’s arrival, saying that his experience within the company will add to his effectiveness, praising his focus on the customer. And, while the design chief likely isn’t involved in everyday line-level sketches, Reuss noted that Nesbitt’s designs “are only getting better and bolder.”
Simcoe oversaw the design of new models like the Cadillac Lyriq, GMC Hummer EV, and Chevy Equinox EV, while Nesbitt was involved with the Cadillac Opulent Velocity and Sollei concept cars. GM said Simcoe’s fingerprints can be found on its efforts around electrification, autonomy, and user experience.
[Images: General Motors]
Become a TTAC insider. Get the latest news, features, TTAC takes, and everything else that gets to the truth about cars first by subscribing to our newsletter.
Chris grew up in, under, and around cars, but took the long way around to becoming an automotive writer. After a career in technology consulting and a trip through business school, Chris began writing about the automotive industry as a way to reconnect with his passion and get behind the wheel of a new car every week. He focuses on taking complex industry stories and making them digestible by any reader. Just don’t expect him to stay away from high-mileage Porsches.
More by Chris Teague
Comments
Join the conversation
Now we know who is responsible for the uglification of GM product.
I wonder if he was stickin' it to Mary Barra.