AUSTRALIAN auto designer Mike Simcoe, who rose through the ranks from joining the Holden design team in 1983 to become senior vice president of global design for General Motors, has announced he will retire on July 1.

Mr Simcoe (67) has led GM’s global design operations since 2016. He is GM’s seventh design chief in its history and leaves after 42 years with the car-making conglomerate, primarily with the Holden brand in Australia.

He will be replaced by Cadillac design boss Bryan Nesbitt (55). Mr Nesbitt, the executive director of global Cadillac design, said that “taking the reins of GM’s Design organisation, which boasts some of the most talented and creative individuals in the industry, is both humbling and exhilarating”.

GM president Mark Reuss – who spent 18 months as chair of Holden from February 2008 but remained influential over the iconic Australian brand’s fortunes with several rescue attempts before its battle for survival was lost in 2020 – described Mr Simcoe as “a visionary designer and leader”.

Mike Simcoe

He also said Mr Nesbitt’s “considerable talent and formidable leadership skills” will lead the company into the future.

Under Mr Simcoe, who was the first non-American in the role, Mr Reuss said “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.”

Mr Nesbitt “has a long history with all our brands, and a deep understanding of our customers,” Mr Reuss said.

“As seen in his recent work at Cadillac, his design statements are only getting better and bolder.”

In a statement, GM said Cadillac’s latest concepts, the Opulent Velocity and Sollei, “were brought to life under Nesbitt’s guidance”.

Mr Nesbitt was promoted to his current role at Cadillac design in 2022 after holding leadership roles in North America and overseas, including as vice president of design in China and Europe.

He came to GM in 2001 from Chrysler, where he worked on the PT Cruiser.

At GM, he has worked on production vehicles including the 2008 Chevrolet Malibu, which won North American Car of the Year honours, as well as the 2008 Buick Enclave and the 2015 Cadillac Escalade, GMC Yukon and Chevy Tahoe full-size SUVs.

Mr Nesbitt wrote on his LinkedIn profile that “Taking the reins of GM’s Design organisation, which boasts some of the most talented and creative individuals in the industry, is both humbling and exhilarating.”

“The pace of change will only accelerate as we strive to meet the needs of our customers today and in the future,” he wrote.

“We will continue to place our millions of customers worldwide at the centre of everything we do, with exceptional design remaining at the core of every GM vehicle we produce.”

Mr Simcoe has been with GM since 1983, when he was hired as a designer at Holden. He rose through the company, leading efforts in both North America and internationally before being promoted to lead global design in 2016.

Bryan Nesbitt

Past roles included design director for GM Asia Pacific, executive director of North American exterior design and executive director for GM international design.

Automotive News wrote that he has led GM’s transition into electric vehicles, from the high-end GMC Hummer EV pickup and SUV to the entry-level Chevrolet Equinox EV compact crossover.

“Under Simcoe, GM in 2024 opened its new Design West building, part of a nearly $US2 billion investment in the Global Technical Center near Detroit,” AN reported.

“Design West is home to the studios for GM’s four vehicle brands and is intended as an open and collaborative space.”

Mr Simcoe told Automotive News in an interview: “In the past – and certainly the studios I grew up in – you closed the door and you worked in your tight and very secretive space, and next door someone was doing the same thing.

“The bigger space the studios represent allows us to do our job more easily.”

GM also opened Cadillac House on its Tech Center campus, where buyers of the ultra-luxury Cadillac Celestiq electric sedan can work with a concierge to customize their vehicles’ colours and finishes.

“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,” Mr Simcoe said in a statement.

“GM has some of the most gifted designers and artisans in the world. 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.”