In the first major management change announced since Mary Barra took over as chief executive on 15 January, General Motors said China chairman and global manufacturing head Tim Lee would retire after almost 45 years and be replaced by Jim DeLuca from 1 February.

DeLuca is currently vice president of manufacturing for GM International Operations. GM China president Matt Tsien will continue to head operations there. A replacement for Lee as chairman of GM China has not been named.

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As head of global manufacturing, Lee oversaw quality improvements and cost reductions in product launches that allowed reinvestment in products and technology, GM said. Last year, the automaker launched more than 40 vehicles and nearly 25 powertrains around the world.

“Lee’s leadership and strong relationships with local partners in China also helped spur growth of the company’s business in that market. General Motors and its joint ventures sold a record 3,160,377 vehicles in China last year,” it said in a statement.

DeLuca, 52, will report to Barra in his new role, as head of over 200,000 employees at 171 facilities in 31 countries. A 35-year GM veteran, he has extensive experience in global manufacturing, quality, labour relations and product launches. In his most recent role as head of GMIO Manufacturing, he drove significant improvements in quality and manufacturing cost while managing the launch of 19 new vehicles in China and across international operations.      

Barra said: “His global manufacturing and quality experience, along with his desire for innovative solutions, ensure we will continue our progress in producing the world’s best vehicles, powertrains and stampings.”

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The Detroit Free Press noted the latest announcement comes after a series of changes for GM’s international operations. GM recently configured the division, assigning Volvo veteran Stefan Jacoby as executive vice president, announcing the retirement of GM China president Bob Socia and appointing Matt Tsien as Socia’s successor.

DeLuca started with GM in 1979 as a General Motors Institute (now Kettering University) student at the (now closed and demolished) Linden, New Jersey assembly plant. He held key manufacturing positions at multiple plants and was director of model change engineering for the former GM Truck Group and manufacturing manager of stamping operations for GM North American Manufacturing. He was appointed vice president of quality for GM Asia Pacific and GM Daewoo Auto & Technology in November 2007 and was named vice president of quality for GMIO in 2009.

Deluca has headed manufacturing for GMIO since 2013.