GM announces executive leadership changes

General Motors has announced some senior executive changes, with the new appointments being effective April 1, 2020.

Matt Tsien, currently executive vice-president and president, GM China, is appointed to the position of Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, replacing Jon Lauckner, who has elected to retire effective July 1, 2020. In his new role, Tsien will report to GM President Mark Reuss.

Tsien has led GM’s operations in China since January 1, 2014. During his time in China, GM achieved unprecedented growth of business and brought in the technologies that would enable the company’s long-term growth in China, especially in electrification and connectivity.

Craig Buchholz, currently chief communications officer, Procter & Gamble, joins GM as Senior Vice President, Global Communications, replacing Tony Cervone, who has elected to retire effective July 1, 2020. Buchholz will report to GM Chairman and CEO Mary Barra.

Buchholz joins GM with extensive experience managing complex communications environments in multi-brand organizations. For the past six years, Buchholz has led P&G communications through a variety of challenging product and corporate issues. Prior to P&G, he spent 20 years in the pharmaceutical world working in both agency and corporate environments, including with Merck, Johnson & Johnson and what is now Pfizer. In those companies, he held multiple leadership positions in corporate, internal and executive communications. He holds a law degree from Drexel University and bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Public Relations from Temple University. Buchholz is also an Aspen Institute Fellow.

Julian Blissett, currently senior vice president, International Operations, is appointed Executive Vice President and President, GM China, succeeding Tsien. In his new role, Blissett will report to GM President Mark Reuss.

Steve Kiefer, senior vice president and president, GM International, will continue in his current role and assume the day-to-day operations of GM’s international markets currently handled by Blissett. Kiefer will continue to report to Reuss.

“I’d like to thank Jon and Tony for their decades-long service to GM, and for the outstanding contributions they’ve made to the company,” said Barra. “They’ve both played significant roles in positioning the company for long-term success, and I wish them all the best in retirement.”