GM Taps Purchasing Boss to Head China Unit

Kevin Wale, president of General Motors Co.'s China business and chief operations office for India and southeast Asia, will step down on Oct. 31 after 37 years at the company.

He will be replaced on Oct. 1 by Bob Socia, who has been vice president of global purchasing and supply chain for more than three years.

Socia will report to Tim Lee, president of GM's International Operations, which include Asia. The company says it will name Socia's successor as purchasing chief later.

Wale has overseen growth in GM sales in China to more than 2.5 million vehicles last year from 560,000 units when he took the job in 2005.

Socia will face new challenges as China's auto market growth slows and competitors slash prices, analysts say. He has previous experience there as executive vice president of Shanghai GM, the company's flagship Chinese joint venture with Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp.