Buick, Cadillac and GMC Get New Design Chiefs

General Motors Co. has appointed Andrew Smith, design director at GM Holden in Australia, as executive director of global design activities for the Buick and Cadillac brands.

He will start the new job at the GM Technical Center in Warren, Mich., on Sept. 1.

Smith will replace Mark Adams, who will return to his former job as head of design at General Motors Co.'s European unit after 13 months in the Buick-Cadillac job.

CEO Dan Akerson say one of Adams' tasks will be to help integrate product development for Opel and Buick. Both brands rely heavily on platforms designed by GM engineers in Germany.

Helen Emsley, who oversees interior design for fullsize trucks and performance cars, will become executive director of GMC design.

Ken Parkinson, who currently heads global design for GMC and Cadillac, will continue as Chevrolet's executive director of worldwide design.