GM China’s Wale to Retire

General Motors China President Kevin Wale will retire Oct. 31.

Wale, who also is GM’s chief operations officer for China, India and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, will be replaced by Bob Socia, GM vice president-global purchasing and supply.

 “Kevin has been instrumental in strengthening our foundation in the largest vehicle market in the world,” says Tim Lee, GM vice president-global manufacturing, and president-international operations.

“Delivering exceptional value related to General Motors’ presence in China, he has made the company a recognized business leader and valued partner throughout Asia. We appreciate Kevin’s nearly four decades of service to the company and wish him continued success.”

Wale, 57, began his career with the auto maker in 1975 at its GM Holden Australian subsidiary, where he held the positions of finance director and sales and marketing director. In 1998, he moved to Singapore as the executive responsible for GM’s Asia/Pacific operations.

In 2001, Wale moved to the U.K. to serve as chairman and managing director of Vauxhall and vice president of GM Europe. In 2005, he became president and managing director of the GM China Group, leading the overall coordination of the auto maker’s extensive China operations.

Under Wale’s leadership, GM’s annual sales in China grew from 560,000 units in 2005 to 2.5 million in 2011. In 2009, he received the Shanghai government’s Magnolia Award, its highest honor for members of the foreign community. 

“There are still great opportunities for us here right across the board, and there are three areas where we expect to do well,” Wale told WardsAuto in a January 2011 interview.

“One is the commercial-vehicle business of our joint venture with FAW (Group) Another is the entry-level Baojun 630 now coming off the line from our joint venture with SAIC and Wuling Motors. Third is the luxury market, growing strongly, where we’ve been building demand for Cadillac.”

Yet, Wale emphasized, “the heart of the Chinese market for us is Chevrolet and Buick,” the best-sellers built by Shanghai General Motors.

Socia has worked in every GM region around the world. With his broad global background, he is well-prepared for a seamless transition to oversee many of GM’s key Asian markets, Lee says.

“Bob has extensive experience leading global operations and global purchasing, and working directly with our joint venture partners,” Lee says. “His vast knowledge of our business around the world, combined with his ability to build and foster strong relationships and always put the customer first, makes him a perfect fit for this critical role.”

Socia, 58, joined GM’s Cadillac Div. in Detroit in 1975 and worked in both finance and materials management. He has held senior positions at GM Asia/Pacific, GM Europe and GM Latin America, Africa and the Middle East.

Socia served as president and managing director of GM South Africa in 2004. In 2007, he became executive vice president of Shanghai GM, the auto maker’s 15-year-old joint venture in China. He was named to his current position of vice president-global purchasing and supply in 2009.

Socia will report to Lee and remain a member of GM’s executive operations committee. His successor has not yet been named.