Leadership changes afoot at General Motors
Andrew Smith to lead General Motors Global Advanced Design while Bryan Nesbitt will head up Cadillac Global design, replacing Smith
Top design execs at General Motors are swapping roles with the executive director of Global Cadillac Design Andrew Smith moving to become executive director of Global Advanced Design. Bryan Nesbitt, who is executive director of Global Advanced Design, will move to lead Cadillac as executive director of Global Cadillac Design. The move will be effective 1 March, 2022.
A truly international designer Smith has been with GM for 25 years in a career that has spanned leadership of interior, exterior and advanced design programs, global architecture development and concept car design on three continents. A graduate of Sydney College of the Arts and University of Technology, Smith joined Holden in 1992 to work as an exterior designer on the VT Commodore and oversaw the exterior design of the VU Ute and the Sandman panel van and Utester concepts.
From 2005, Smith worked at GM Design headquarters in Detroit, Michigan, developing Hummer interiors and product proposals such as the Hummer HX concept, exhibited at the 2008 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.
Appointed director of Advanced Design in 2007, Smith headed the studio responsible for trends analysis, future vision and show cars. Among other programs, he led the “Eco” research project and a “Small Premium” project for Buick.
From 2009-2010, as GMNA director of Architecture Strategy, he led an initiative to set up GM’s Global Architecture Studio, a collaboration between Design, Planning and Advanced Engineering, which coordinated input from markets worldwide and oversaw all future global vehicle platform development.
Moving from the US to Seoul, South Korea, in 2010, Smith became GM Korea managing director of Architecture and Advanced Design, developing next-generation products for mini and small/light market segments, and helping launch the Chevrolet brand in South Korea with the Miray concept car.
Nesbitt, who will replace Smith as executive director, Global Cadillac Design, has led multiple studio teams, including the production studios for Brightdrop and Cruise Origin.
Nesbitt graduated from Art Center College of Design and joined GM in 2001 as Chevrolet director of design. He received the Young Leadership & Excellence Award from the Automotive Hall of Fame in 2002. Nesbitt has also served as GM China Design Vice President.
Some of the award-winning vehicles designed under his leadership include the 2008 Nacoty Chevrolet Malibu, 2008 Buick Enclave, 2009 Ecoty Opel Insignia, the 2015 Cadillac Escalade, GMC Yukon and Chevrolet Tahoe, and the 2021 Brightdrop EV600.
His most awarded concepts include 2006 Saab Aero-X, 2015 Chevrolet FNR, 2017 GM Surus, the 2020 Cruise Origin, and the 2021 Cadillac eVTOL Halo.
General Motors VP of GM Global Design Michael Simcoe said: “Andrew and Bryan are two of the industry’s most impactful design leaders. Andrew has been instrumental in driving Cadillac’s design leadership and in his new role the Advanced Design team will continue to impact the long-term future of transportation. Bryan’s recent work overseeing the Cadillac Halo portfolio and his previous experience in China and Europe align well with the brand’s global objectives.”
In October 2021, Sharon Gauci moved to executive director, Buick and GMC Design and Crystal Wyndham was promoted to replace her as executive director, Global Industrial Design. Phil Zak continues to lead Chevrolet.