General Motors China Changes Leadership, Cadillac Global Vice President John Ross Takes Over

On November 12, it was learned from General Motors that starting December 1, the current Senior Vice President of General Motors and President of GM China, Steve Hill, will be appointed as the Senior Vice President of Global Export and Retail Innovation, a newly established position within the group, responsible for driving the expansion of General Motors' export business and innovation in retail channels in global markets.

Stephen Hill; Image source: General Motors China

The position of Global Senior Vice President of General Motors and President of General Motors China will be held by John Roth, the current Global Vice President of Cadillac.

"Kevin has a deep understanding of our global operations and extensive experience in leading critical sales, marketing, and after-sales services, which will be key factors for his success in the new position," said Rory Harvey, Executive Vice President and Global Vice President of Marketing at General Motors.

During his tenure as President of General Motors China, He Siwen led a series of business restructuring efforts, guiding the company to achieve profitability in the Chinese market for four consecutive quarters and becoming the only global automaker to gain market share this year.

He Siwen stated: "In addition to delivering vehicles to Chinese consumers, our joint ventures, especially the export business of SAIC-GM-Wuling, have also achieved significant growth. This has made an important contribution to enhancing General Motors' profitability in international markets and holds great potential for future growth."

During his long tenure at General Motors, He Siwen held several leadership positions in global marketing, sales, and aftersales service, including Vice President of Sales, Service, and Marketing in the United States, as well as Vice President of Global Customer Care and Aftersales.

John Roth; Image source: General Motors China

John Ross, the successor, has served General Motors for over 34 years. Since joining in 1991, he has been responsible for sales, marketing, and global market operations. His career experience includes serving as Vice President of Marketing, Sales, and Service for the Canadian market, President and Managing Director for Africa and the Middle East, and Vice President of Global Customer Care and Aftersales Service.

Since taking office as Global Vice President of Cadillac in June 2023, Ross has led the brand to redefine its "world standard" positioning, making Cadillac the fastest-growing luxury brand and the number one luxury electric vehicle brand in terms of sales, while successfully promoting the brand's entry into the F1 racing arena.

Rory Harvey evaluated that he possesses extensive global market leadership experience, outstanding business results, and the ability to deepen collaborative relationships with partners, believing that Ross is the right person to lead General Motors' continued development in the Chinese market.

This personnel adjustment indicates that General Motors is reinforcing the strategic position of China as a core market while aiming to enhance global synergy through the newly established functions of export and retail innovation. Ross stated that China is one of the most dynamic and competitive automotive markets in the world, and he will work closely with the General Motors China team and joint venture partners to drive business transformation together.