General Motors Co. in Detroit today announced Steve Hill, currently vice president of global commercial operations, will succeed Julian Blissett, GM executive vice president and president of GM China, effective June 1.
Hill has held leadership roles across global marketing, sales, and aftersales. Aside from his current role, Hill’s previous key posts have included vice president of U.S. sales, service, and marketing, and global vice president of customer care and aftersales.
“I am excited and energized by this new role, where I can leverage my experience in building strong relationships with partners, driving sales, and developing world-class purchase and ownership experiences for our customers, in one of the most competitive markets in the world,” Hill says.
In his new position, Hill will join GM’s senior leadership team, reporting to Rory Harvey, GM executive vice president and president of global markets. He will be based in Shanghai.
“We are excited to welcome Steve as GM senior vice president and president of GM China,” Harvey says. “With his deep commercial acumen and focus on customers, Steve has a clear mandate to fully leverage the opportunity presented by accelerating the electrification of our portfolio in China and deploying new technologies.”
Blissett is retiring from the automaker, having led GM China through a period of growth and change in the domestic industry and navigating the COVID pandemic.
“Julian has laid important foundations for GM to continue to build on our 27-year history of success and growth in China, with his focus on the competitiveness of our products and technology, as well as our partnerships in the country,” says Harvey.
Blissett began his career at GM in 1996 in engineering in Europe. After leading manufacturing and new business development teams, he was promoted to executive vice president of SAIC General Motors (SAIC-GM) in 2014. Blissett was appointed senior vice president of international operations in 2019 where he led critical projects to optimize GM’s international business and turn around performance, before being appointed to lead GM China in 2020.
“It has been an honor to contribute to GM’s success in global markets throughout my career and particularly in China,” Blissett says. “I am confident that GM is positioned for growth and success in China. The time is right for me to retire and move back to England where I can be with my family full time.”
