• by Karl Greenberg , June 27, 2013

General Motors is making some changes to its global design ranks. Mark Adams, currently executive director, Global Cadillac and Buick Design and GME vice president, Design, will return to Germany and assume the position of GME vice president, Design, and champion for Opel/Buick brand strategies and design language.

Andrew Smith, who oversees Australian brand Holden's design shop, will be promoted to executive director, Global Cadillac and Buick Design, replacing Mark Adams. Ken Parkinson, currently executive director, Global Chevrolet and GMC Design, is being moved to executive director, Global Chevrolet Design and Architecture. 

 Helen Emsley, currently design director, Interior Full-Size Truck and Performance Car, will be will head up global design and user experience for GM's GMC truck and SUV brand. John Puskar, currently design director, Global Color & Trim, will replace Emsley. Meanwhile, Sharon Gauci, who handles Buick Color & Trim, will replace  Puskar. Clay Dean, director, Global Advanced Design, will take the North American aspect of that job. He will also head up  advanced design globally.

General Motors Design has comprises ten design shops in seven countries: the United States, Germany, Korea, China, Australia, Brazil and India, with Ed Welburn, vice president, Global Design at the helm. GM says Welburn is just the sixth Design leader in GM history and the first to lead all of the company’s Global Design Centers. Harley Earl, famous for the 50's and 60's era vertical fins, started that practice at GM in 1927.