DETROIT/SHANGHAI – General Motors today announced a realignment of its manufacturing organization to optimize the company’s global manufacturing footprint and to drive greater efficiencies and cost savings.
Tim Lee will become GM vice president, Global Manufacturing, effective immediately. Lee will also retain his position as president, GM International Operations, overseeing regional markets which account for 40 percent of GM’s global sales volume and include China, Russia and South Korea. Lee will continue reporting to GM Chairman and CEO Dan Akerson.
The move underscores the reality of GM’s manufacturing footprint and regional operations around the world. GM and its partners currently build vehicles in 30 countries for more than 100 global markets. Seventy percent of GM products are built outside of the United States in accordance with the company’s longstanding philosophy of building where it sells.
“Leading a portfolio that includes more than 60 plants in 15 countries gives Tim a terrific vantage point for this job,” said Akerson. “His extensive manufacturing experience coupled with this alignment will help deliver great, quality vehicles that keep pace with GM’s global growth.”
Lee will have responsibility for GM’s manufacturing operations globally, supervising the regional manufacturing leaders who will report to him, while collaborating with the leadership of the company’s regions in North America, South America and Europe. In his new role, Lee will also be responsible for global manufacturing engineering, labor relations, safety and manufacturing strategy and planning.
With Lee’s appointment, Diana Tremblay transitions to North America vice president, Manufacturing, also effective immediately. She will report to Lee.
“Our realignment now allows Diana to focus her considerable talents and experience exclusively on North America – our single greatest manufacturing region,” said Akerson. “Diana’s work toward greater North American manufacturing flexibility has helped drive GM’s recent progress of renewed plant investments and job creation.”
General Motors Co. (NYSE:GM, TSX: GMM) and its partners produce vehicles in 30 countries, and the company has leadership positions in the world's largest and fastest-growing automotive markets. GM’s brands include Chevrolet and Cadillac, as well as Baojun, Buick, GMC, Holden, Isuzu, Jiefang, Opel, Vauxhall and Wuling. More information on the company and its subsidiaries, including OnStar, a global leader in vehicle safety, security and information services, can be found at http://www.gm.com.
