Johan de Nysschen Leaving Cadillac, GM Announces New Senior Vice President and President

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Detroit’s General Motors Co. today announced the appointment of Steve Carlisle to senior vice president and president of Cadillac. He will replace Johan de Nysschen, who is leaving the company effective immediately.

“We appreciate Johan’s efforts over the last four years in setting a stronger foundation for Cadillac,” says Dan Ammann, president of GM. “Looking forward, the world is changing rapidly, and, beginning with the launch of the new XT4, it is paramount that we capitalize immediately on the opportunities that arise from this rate of change. This move will further accelerate our efforts in that regard.”

Carlisle was most recently president and managing director of GM Canada. In 2017, GM was No. 1 in automotive retail sales in Canada, with Buick, GMC, and Cadillac achieving their best-ever sales years. Carlisle also reestablished key relationships in Canada with retailers, employees, and government officials.

“The potential for Cadillac across the globe is incredible, and I’m honored to be chosen to be a part of mapping that future,” says Carlisle. “I look forward to building on our current momentum as we continue on our mission to position Cadillac at the pinnacle of luxury.”

Carlisle began his career with GM in 1982 as an industrial engineering co-op student at the Oshawa Truck Assembly Plant. He has since held several senior leadership positions, including vice president of global product planning, vice president of U.S. sales and operations, and president and managing director of Southeast Asia Operations.

Carlisle will report to Ammann.

The company also announced Travis Hester will take over as president and managing director of GM Canada. Since 2016, he has led the team responsible for balancing all aspects of vehicle development, including quality, cost, appearance, purchasing, customer acceptance, and performance targets. He will report to Alan Batey, president of GM North America.

Hester began his GM career in 1995 in Australia as a technical support engineer for GM Holden. He moved to the U.S. in 2005. Since then, he has held engineering positions in the U.S. and China, including chief engineer for the Buick Regal, Buick LaCrossse, and the Chevrolet Sonic. Hester became vice president of global product programs in 2016.