GM Design Chief Welburn to Retire

Ed Welburn, who had led vehicle design for General Motors Co. since 2003, is retiring on July 1

Welburn, 65, will be succeeded by Michael Simcoe, who has been vice president of GM International Design since 2014. Simcoe has been based in Australia and South Korea with responsibilities in those markets and India.

Simcoe also has been executive director of GM’s exterior design in North America since 2004. He will begin a transition to his new post on May 1.

The 65-year-old Welburn joined GM 44 years ago. He has managed 10 design centers and 2,500 employees in seven countries. CEO Mary Barra credits Welburn for establishing a creative, inclusive and customer-oriented design culture at GM.