GM Names New Design Chiefs for GMC and Buick-Cadillac

General Motors Co. has named Andrew Smith executive director of global design activities for the Buick and Cadillac brands, effective Sept. 1. He will be based at the GM Technical Center in Warren, Mich.

Smith currently is design director at GM Holden in Australia. He will replace Mark Adams, who took the job less than a year ago. Adams is returning to Germany to resume his previous assignment as head of design for GM Europe.

GM says one of Adams' goals will be to help integrate Opel and Buick product development. Both brands rely heavily upon platforms developed by the company's engineering team in Europe.

The company also promoted Helen Emsley to executive director of GMC design. She currently heads fullsize truck and performance car interior design activities.

Emsley succeeds Ken Parkinson, currently executive director of global design for GMC and Chevrolet. He will continue to lead worldwide design activities for Chevrolet.