GENERAL Motors Australia and New Zealand managing director Jess Bala has resigned after 17 years with the company. 

Ms Bala was the first woman and the youngest person to lead GM ANZ. She joined GM Holden Australia in 2009 as district sales manager, becoming planning analyst and later product planner for Holden. 

General Motors Australia and New Zealand managing director Jess Bala

In 2013 she was appointed technology planning manager at GM Technical Centre in Detroit and moved to product manager of the Global C-Car project, then became product manager of electric vehicles before being promoted to assistant director of medium truck, van and commercial product in Detroit in 2020.

Ms Bala became chief of staff to GM chair and CEO Mary Barra, then director of Cadillac planning and project marketing in Detroit, before her most recent position as managing director of GM ANZ. 

Under her leadership at GM ANZ, Ms Bala launched Cadillac as a BEV-only brand in Australia in 2024; introduced the Corvette to market and expanded the GMSV range with models including the GMC Yukon and maintained GM’s Supercars motorsport sponsorship. 

GM said Ms Bala had elected to leave the company and that in her time as GM Australia and New Zealand managing director “drove the growth of our world-class portfolio, including Cadillac EVs, Corvette and full-size trucks and SUVs”. 

“We thank Jess for her contribution to the business and wish her well in her future endeavours,” GM said in a statement.  

Ms Bala will be succeeded in an acting capacity by Greg Rowe, currently director of sales and operations.