General Motors Corp. recently celebrated 75 years of GM car design — the ideal occasion to announce the successor to Wayne Cherry, GM's vice president-Design Centers.
Although a company spokesman remains mum on the subject, GM sources say there is little doubt that product czar Bob Lutz has anointed Ed Welburn as Cherry's successor. Welburn, 52, currently is executive director-body-on-frame vehicles and would be just the sixth person in GM history to hold the job.
Welburn is Cherry's most senior assistant, and Cherry has enjoyed a strong relationship with Lutz since he joined GM in 2001 as vice chairman-product development.
“It's a done deal,” claims one insider. “There's really nobody else with the necessary experience.”
Several names have surfaced in the last two years as candidates to replace Cherry, who is retiring after working for GM since 1962 and serving as design chief since 1992.
A top contender is Dave Rand, executive director-advanced design. Rand's return to Detroit in September 2002 from a stint as general director-design at GM do Brazil led many to believe he is going to replace Cherry.
Welburn joined GM in 1972 after 20 years at Oldsmobile — taking over as chief designer in 1989. He has had roles in the Cutlass Supreme, Cutlass Ciera, Calais and Intrigue, as well as the Chevy Bel Air concept, Autonomy fuel-cell vehicle and the Chevy SSR roadster/pickup.
