Michael Simcoe, General Motors’ senior vice president of Global Design, will retire July 1, concluding a remarkable 42-year career with the company. Bryan Nesbitt, currently executive director of Global Cadillac Design, will succeed Simcoe, becoming just the eighth design chief in GM’s nearly 100-year history.
“Michael is a visionary designer and leader,” said GM President Mark Reuss. “He has elevated automotive design not just at GM, but the world over. Under his leadership, GM Design has created a stunning vehicle portfolio that customers love.”
Simcoe’s tenure has been marked by groundbreaking achievements, including the design and execution of iconic vehicles such as the Cadillac LYRIQ, GMC HUMMER EV and Chevrolet Equinox EV. His leadership also spearheaded the development of GM’s state-of-the-art Design West studio, designed to foster collaboration and accelerate the company’s transformation toward electrification, autonomy, and advanced user experiences.
Nesbitt, the incoming design leader, brings extensive experience from his tenure with GM’s diverse brands. Under his leadership, Cadillac has produced standout concept vehicles such as Opulent Velocity and SOLLEI.
“I am honored to lead GM Design, which is home to some of the industry's most talented and creative people,” Nesbitt said. “Design will continue to be at the leading edge of identifying and adopting new technologies to improve speed to market and meet the needs of customers into the future.”
Simcoe’s influence extended beyond vehicle design, emphasizing a culture of collaboration between design, engineering and manufacturing.
“It has been humbling to be a part of shaping the future of transportation and evolving automotive design,” Simcoe said. “My job has been to create the environment and give our designers the tools to flourish.”
As GM Design transitions to a new era under Nesbitt, the focus will remain on delivering cutting-edge designs that blend art and technology while meeting the evolving needs of GM’s customers.
