Photo: GM
On July 1st, 2016, General Motors will bid farewell to Ed Welburn, the first African American to have led a global automotive design team. Michael Simcoe will replace him as the head honcho of GM Design and GM International Design.
Welburn, a 65-year-old veteran who has been with General Motors since he turned 21, has studied sculpture and product design at the College of Fine Arts at Howard University in Washington, D.C. His first stint at GM was at the Buick Exterior Studio, where Welburn worked on the Riviera and Park Avenue.
In 1975, Welburn was assigned to Oldsmobile, where he developed the record-breaking Aerotech. For the younger audience, it is worth mentioning that the Aerotech hit 257 miles per hour (413.6 km/h) in 1987. After he had been promoted to Oldsmobile chief designer in 1989, Ed began an assignment at Saturn, a brand that had to go after GM applied for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
Some of his and his team’s more modern projects include the Hummer H3, Cadillac Escalade, the latest generation of full-size trucks. There is no doubt that this man has put its mark on all things General Motors. My favorite thing about Welburn is that his fascination for GM started in a damn cute way. I’m referring to when Ed Welburn wrote to General Motors in the 1960s, when he was 11 years old, asking how could he become an automotive designer. The rest, as they say, is history.
After a 44-year career laden with successes, the sixth design chief in the 108-year existence of GM will make way for a young gun of great talent. With the company since 1983, Michael Simcoe started at Holden. His best efforts include the VT Commodore, WH Caprice/Statesmen, VE Commodore, and the GMC Terrain, Buick LaCrosse, Chevrolet Camaro, and Cadillac CTS.
Mark Reuss, the executive vice president of Global Product Development and Global Purchasing and Supply Chain, had the following to declare about the change at GM Design: “Given his deep global experience and passion for breakthrough design, Michael is the right person to lead GM Global Design. He is known for his ability to take diverse ideas and mold them into great products that surprise and delight our customers.”
Mary Barra, the chairman and CEO of General Motors, added, “GM Design is among the most respected and sought-after organizations in the industry because of Ed’s leadership. He nurtured a creative, inclusive and customer-focused culture among our designers that has strengthened our global brands.”
In 1975, Welburn was assigned to Oldsmobile, where he developed the record-breaking Aerotech. For the younger audience, it is worth mentioning that the Aerotech hit 257 miles per hour (413.6 km/h) in 1987. After he had been promoted to Oldsmobile chief designer in 1989, Ed began an assignment at Saturn, a brand that had to go after GM applied for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
Some of his and his team’s more modern projects include the Hummer H3, Cadillac Escalade, the latest generation of full-size trucks. There is no doubt that this man has put its mark on all things General Motors. My favorite thing about Welburn is that his fascination for GM started in a damn cute way. I’m referring to when Ed Welburn wrote to General Motors in the 1960s, when he was 11 years old, asking how could he become an automotive designer. The rest, as they say, is history.
After a 44-year career laden with successes, the sixth design chief in the 108-year existence of GM will make way for a young gun of great talent. With the company since 1983, Michael Simcoe started at Holden. His best efforts include the VT Commodore, WH Caprice/Statesmen, VE Commodore, and the GMC Terrain, Buick LaCrosse, Chevrolet Camaro, and Cadillac CTS.
Mark Reuss, the executive vice president of Global Product Development and Global Purchasing and Supply Chain, had the following to declare about the change at GM Design: “Given his deep global experience and passion for breakthrough design, Michael is the right person to lead GM Global Design. He is known for his ability to take diverse ideas and mold them into great products that surprise and delight our customers.”
Mary Barra, the chairman and CEO of General Motors, added, “GM Design is among the most respected and sought-after organizations in the industry because of Ed’s leadership. He nurtured a creative, inclusive and customer-focused culture among our designers that has strengthened our global brands.”
Google News