A vehicle’s design is one of a model’s most important aspects. The powertrain, amenities, price, and reliability are all vital, as well. However, a person sees an automobile before experiencing anything else about it. Having an attractive appearance is the first step towards attracting a potential buyer to a product.
General Motors Design Chief Michael Simcoe is retiring after 42 years with the company. He’s remaining with the business until July 1, 2025. Simcoe has been guiding the appearance of the automotive giant’s vehicles since Ed Welburn’s retired in 2016.
“Under his leadership, GM Design has created a stunning vehicle portfolio that customers love. His focus on the customer, keen eye for detail, and an emphasis on the future made Michael everything we could have asked for in a chief designer.”
– GM President Mark Reuss
Bryan Nesbitt Takes Over
Bryan Nesbitt will be GM’s new design boss starting on July 1. He’s just the eighth person to have this role in the automaker’s over 100-year history.
Nesbitt’s most recent job at GM was as the executive director of Global Cadillac Design. He’s been with the premium brand since March 2022. At that time, he was responsible for the Sollei convertible concept (pictured above) and the sporty Opulent Velocity (below) performance coupe show car.
“He has a long history with all our brands, and a deep understanding of our customers. As seen in his recent work at Cadillac, his design statements are only getting better and bolder.”
An Impressive Past
Nesbitt’s resume on LinkedIn provides a glimpse at an impressive career. He was a design manager at Chrysler in the 1990s, and he was the principal designer of the PT Cruiser while there. The model was a massive success, with over 1.3 million deliveries during its production run.
Nesbitt then moved to GM in 2001, and his first job was as chief designer at Chevrolet. His studio directed the look of the Saturn Aura, Chevrolet Malibu, and Buick Enclave.
Next, he moved to Europe for a position responsible for crafting a fresh look for the Opel/Vauxhall and Saab models. This period for him included working on the 2010 Opel Astra, 2011 Opel Meriva, 2010 Saab 9-5, and the 2011 Saab 9-4x.
He also cultivated experience working in China at GM’s Baojun brand and later became the global design director for Buick. With 23 years at various levels of determining the company’s styling, GM finally tapped him to lead the look of the automaker’s products worldwide.
TopSpeed’s Take
It takes several years for a vehicle to go from the design phase to reaching production. This time lag means that Nesbitt’s effect on the appearance of GM’s vehicles might not be evident for a while. We look forward to seeing how he influences the shape of the company’s products.
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