GM’s Purchasing Chief Heads to China

Bob Socia, vice president of global purchasing and supply chain at General Motors Co., is moving to Shanghai to take over as president of GM China on Oct. 1.

Socia will replace Kevin Wale, who is retiring on Oct. 31 after 37 years with GM. Socia also will assume Wale's role as chief country operations officer in India and ASEAN. GM's sales in China have nearly quintupled to 2.5 million units since Wale took the job in 2005.

Analysts say Socia, who will report to Tim Lee, president of GM's International Operations, will face new challenges as growth in China's auto market slows and pricing pressures increase.

Socia previously was president of GM South Africa and executive vice president of Shanghai GM. He has held several other senior positions at the company's operations in Asia, Europe and Latin America.