Philadelphian Ed Welburn Steps Down From One of The Biggest Jobs in the Auto Industry

General Motors last week announced the retirement of Vice President of Global Design Ed Welburn — a Philadelphia native – and 44 year company veteran, opening up one of the biggest jobs in the automotive world.

Even after being trimmed of several divisions and tens of thousands of employees in the 2009 bankruptcy reorganization, GM is still one of the biggest global full line car companies serving diverse markets.

Welburn took over shortly after flamboyant product boss Bob Lutz declared that GM cars “looked like a collection of angry kitchen appliances.”

Welburn is credited with major design successes like the Buick Lacrosse, the latest Camaro and Malibu models, and most significantly the reinvention of the highly acclaimed Cadillac line-up with aggressive new designs for the CTS, ATS and new CT6.

Underlining the international scope of the company Australian GM executive Mike Simcoe has been named the first non-American to take over the Global Design post. He has been with GM for 33 years starting in the Australian Holden division and more recently working on the successful designs for the GMC Terrain, Buick LaCrosse, Chevrolet Camaro and Equinox and Cadillac CTS.