• by Tanya Gazdik , July 8, 2020

General Motors is elevating the current head of Cadillac to a companywide sales, service and marketing position.

Steve Carlisle, 58, becomes executive vice president and president, North America, effective Sept. 1. He has been senior vice president and president, Cadillac, since April 2018.

With Carlisle’s appointment, GM will have one sales, service and marketing leader across its full portfolio of automotive and connected services brands in North America, including Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, Cadillac, OnStar, ACDelco and GM Genuine Parts. He will report to GM President Mark Reuss.

“Steve will help us scale the considerable transformation progress we have been making, while at the same time preserving the sufficient autonomy necessary to maintain four distinct vehicle brands,” says GM Chairman and CEO Mary Barra in a release.

Deborah Wahl remains global chief marketing officer, a position which she was appointed to last fall as a promotion from her her previous position as Cadillac marketing chief. She will report to Carlisle.

She previously reported to Carlisle’s predecessor, Barry Engle, 56, who is leaving GM “to pursue leadership opportunities that leverage his broad executive expertise in a variety of industries,” according to the automaker.

Succeeding Carlisle to lead Cadillac’s global operations on a day-to-day basis is Rory Harvey, 52 who is named vice president, Cadillac sales, service and marketing.  He also will report to Carlisle. 

Harvey joined Cadillac in March 2018 as vice president, Cadillac North America sales, service and marketing.  Throughout his more than 30 years with GM, Harvey has held a variety of positions in Europe and the Middle East.

“Rory has been one of the chief architects of Cadillac’s brand strategy, working with Steve,” Barra says. “He has a strong commitment to Cadillac, its dealers and customers, so we will have great continuity as Steve takes on broader responsibilities.”