GM Holden Taps Australian for Top Design Post

Andrew Smith, 43, takes the job effective Aug. 1, capping a 20-year international career with General Motors leading interior, exterior and advanced design, as well as global architecture development and concept-car creation on three continents.

The New South Wales native joined Holden in 1992, eventually becoming responsible for the exterior design of the VU utility vehicle and Sandman and Utester concepts before being promoted to interior-design manager leading the domestic VE Commodore and WM Statesman/Caprice program.

He moved to GM’s design headquarters in Detroit in 2005, where he held a number of senior positions including director of interior design, director of advanced design – where he led the “small premium” project for Buick – and then director of architecture strategy overseeing all vehicle-platform development.

Moving to Seoul, South Korea, Smith has been in his current role as managing director of architecture and advanced design for two years, with responsibility for small- and midsize-vehicle development and the Miray concept car.

Smith, whose father was a Holden dealer, says he’s looking forward to returning to Australia after seven years and leading the GM Holden design team in creating vehicles for a new generation of technology-savvy drivers.

“I see my role as integral in driving global collaboration for future product development and ensuring Holden vehicles continue to evolve,” he says in a statement.

“I’ve had some incredible experiences and opportunities in my overseas assignments and I draw inspiration from them. I love technology and the creative challenge of putting technology into the context of everyday life and the driving experience.”

Smith replaces Tony Stolfo, who left GM Holden this month.

He will report directly to Michael Simcoe, newly named executive director-GM International Operations Design. He also has a second reporting line to GM Holden Chairman and Managing Director Mike Devereux and becomes a member of the GM Holden senior leadership team.