Reilly Bids Final Farewell to GM Daewoo Workers

GM Asia/Pacific President Nick Reilly this month officially turned over day-to-day leadership of GM Daewoo Auto & Technology Co. (GMDAT) to his successor, Michael Grimaldi, who will serve as president and CEO.

Reilly took up the reins as chief of General Motors Corp.’s Asian operations July 1, although he stays on as GMDAT board chairman. For the last month, he has been familiarizing himself with his Asia/Pacific duties while bringing Grimaldi up to speed in South Korea.

Grimaldi, who served as president and managing director of GM of Canada for the last four years, says he will continue to put strong focus on GMDAT’s mission as GM’s global small-car development center.

Reilly has headed the upstart subsidiary since October 2002, when GM acquired production plants in Gunsan and Changwon from the now-defunct Daewoo Motors Co. Ltd.

During his tenure, GMDAT sales grew from 220,000 vehicles in 2002 to more than 1 million in 2005. The auto maker year-to-date has sold 967,397 units.

Reilly also oversaw the monumental conversion of the sprawling Daewoo production complex at Bupyeong to the GM global manufacturing system.

GM Asia/Pacific chief Nick Reilly will remain GMDAT board chairman.

Although workers at the complex are represented by one of Korea’s most volatile labor unions, the two sides were able to work cooperatively under Reilly’s leadership to vastly improve worker productivity and dedication in order to grow the company.

At a farewell luncheon on Sept. 15, the union chairman presented Reilly with a plaque that reads: “You have a special place in the hearts of GM Daewoo.”

Among the 400 employees attending the ceremony, were Grimaldi and key Bupyeong managers and union representatives.

Reilly told his audience Grimaldi, who moved to GMDAT Aug. 1, came onboard at a critical time, participating in final labor contract negotiations in Reilly's place and helping to secure a settlement with the union.

Reilly this year received national praise from the South Korean government and newspapers throughout the country for his decision to rehire 1,700 workers laid off at the time of the 2002 Daewoo acquisition.

During his tenure, GMDAT has established three new plants: an advanced transmission operation at Boryong; a diesel-engine plant in Gunsan; and an engine and transmission plant in Changwon, to supply the company’s Matiz minicars.

Reilly also oversaw the establishment of an advanced vehicle-design and development center at Bupyeong that includes an expanded vehicle-testing facility and a test track now under construction near the complex.

In all, GMDAT now operates five vehicle-assembly plants. They include two car-assembly operations and one complete-knocked-down-kit plant at Bupyeong, plus the Gunsan and Changwon facilities. The auto maker also operates a transmission factory and suspension components plants at Bupyeong.