GM Canada names Stephen Carlisle as new president and managing director

GM Canada announced on Thursday that Stephen K. Carlisle will take over as president and managing director from Kevin W. Williams, who has led the company since 2010. Mr. Williams will stay on until the end of 2014 to help in the transition.

Mr. Williams, who has been with the company since 1983, chose to retire from GM, effective at the end of this year. He held progressively more senior roles in manufacturing, purchasing, supplier quality and development, and service and parts operations in several locations worldwide including Canada, the US, Germany and Mexico.

Before his Canadian assignment, Williams had been vice president and general manager, Service and Parts Operations where he was in charge of all General Motor’s global aftersales businesses.

Mr. Williams had also been president and managing director of GM de Mexico; GM North America vice president of Quality and Global Quality Process Leader, and worldwide executive director, Supper Quality, Development and Supplier Diversity.

Mr. Carlisle started his GM career as a co-op student in industrial engineering at the Oshawa Truck Assembly Centre in 1982. (Photo: GM)

CEO of General Motors Company, Mary Barra, said:

“I’d like to thank Kevin for his leadership and significant contributions throughout a long and distinguished career with GM. In his most recent assignment, Kevin helped rebuild GM Canada after one of our most challenging periods and has established a solid foundation for growth into the future.”

As president and managing director of GM Canada, Mr. Carlisle will report to GM North America president Alan Batey.

Mr. Carlisle most recently served as vice president of global product planning and program management based in the US. Beforehand, was vice president of US sales operations in charge of dealer network, retail sales support and fleet & commercial. He had previously been in charge of GM South East Asia Operations, in addition to holding leadership posts in China and Singapore.

Mr. Carlisle said:

“I’m honored to have the opportunity to return to Canada and build on the winning foundation established by Kevin and the team over the past four years. Having worked intensely on GM’s world-leading new products and technology strategies, I am excited to bring my enthusiasm and product focus to Canada. I look forward to working with our employees, dealers and other key stakeholders to continue to build an organization that puts the customer at the centre of everything we do.”