Former GM Holden chief designer Michael Simcoe, who led the creation of the VT and VE Commodore and the 2001 Monaro Coupe, will step down from his role as GM Global Design vice president on July 1, 2025.
Simcoe will retire after a 42-year career with the company. He joined GM Holden in 1983 and began his current role in 2016 following the retirement of Edward Welburn.
Currently, the executive director of Global Cadillac Design, Bryan Nesbitt, will succeed Simcoe. Nesbitt will become the eighth chief of GM Global Design on July 1. Simcoe will remain in his current role until then to ensure a smooth handover.
“Michael is a visionary designer and leader,” said GM President Mark Reuss.
“He has elevated automotive design at GM and 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 emphasis on the future made Michael everything we could have asked for in a chief designer. He also fostered a deep, collaborative relationship with engineering and manufacturing to push the boundaries of creativity and execution.
“Michael and his team have cemented design as a fundamental competitive advantage for GM.
“At the same time, we’re thrilled to have Bryan step up to lead GM Design, where he will use his considerable talent and formidable leadership skills to take us into the future,” Reuss says.
“He has a long history with all our brands and a deep understanding of our customers. His recent work at Cadillac shows that his design statements are improving and bolder.”
Cadillac’s latest concept vehicles – Opulent Velocity and SOLLEI – were brought to life under Nesbitt’s guidance.
Simcoe instilled a culture of excellence, always keeping customer needs and wants at the heart of GM’s designs. He reshaped the organisation to deliver products focusing on detail and execution, combined with a creative spirit and a technology-driven ethos, inspiring growth in areas like electrification, autonomy, and user experience.
Under Simcoe, GM’s design studios have created numerous award-winning products, including the Cadillac LYRIQ, GMC Hummer EV, and Chevrolet Equinox EV.
Simcoe also championed the inception and execution of GM’s flagship Design West studio campus on GM’s Global Technical Center campus in Warren, Michigan. Purpose-built to foster collaboration and accelerate GM’s transformation, it will stand as an enduring legacy.
“It has been humbling to be a part of shaping the future of transportation and evolving automotive design while ensuring that the intersection of art and technology is core to GM Design and our business,” Simcoe says.
“GM has some of the world’s most gifted designers and artisans. My job has been to create the environment and give them the tools to flourish and bring our vision to life.
“Under Bryan’s leadership, I know GM Design will continue to drive the company forward. He shares my belief in our team’s creative talent and potential, and I’m excited to see how the next generation of GM Design influences the automotive landscape,” he says.
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