GM names new European startup CEO| Roadsleeper.com
General Motors has named Jaclyn McQuaid president and general manager of GM Europe, where she will lead the implementation of GM’s new mobility business.
McQuaid has extensive experience overseeing the development of GM vehicle programs, most recently in the global management position of senior engineer for full-size trucks where she helped the automaker achieve and maintain its top position in full-size truck sales share in the United States.
She started her new role today (November 1) based in Zurich, Switzerland.
GM SVP and president of GM International, Shilpan Amin, said McQuaid will be responsible for continuing to transform GM’s European operations into “a nimble, unconventional mobility startup, with an all-electric vehicle offering at its core.”
“McQuaid comes to this important leadership role, having played an integral role in the development of many of our most successful products, including the integration of leading technologies and connectivity,” said Amin.
“Throughout her 22-year career at GM, she has demonstrated a laser focus on our customers’ needs and has a proven track record of successfully managing global vehicle programs – giving her insight into European markets – key attributes that will be critical to our success in disrupting mobility in the region.” .”
Since November 2021, GM has significantly expanded its operations in Europe, as it prepares to launch a new, unconventional startup leveraging global growth investments.
Over the past year, GM Europe – which a few years ago sold its Opel and Vauxhall operations to what is now Stellantis – has expanded its customer and technology-focused team, announced a European design center based in the UK and continued to grow. Ireland’s Information Technology Innovation Hub.
McQuaid said she is excited to move to Europe to lead the new mobility company through a period of strong growth.
“European customers are switching to electric vehicles at a faster rate than anywhere else in the world, and GM is investing US$35 billion through 2025 in electric and autonomous vehicles to be a major driver of our industry’s transformation,” she said.
“Our flexible Ultium battery platform and the breadth and depth of our electric vehicle portfolio enable GM to offer European customers a variety of products and services to support their lifestyles while contributing to a zero-accident, zero-emission, zero-congestion future.”
McQuaid replaces Mahmoud Samara, who is leaving GM for family reasons after leading the transformation of the GM Europe business for the past year.
Samara said it was a difficult decision to exit at a time when the business in Europe was poised for significant growth.
