Detroit Free Press - General Motors' chief in China, where the automaker has built a bigger presence than its U.S. competitors, is retiring.
GM China President Kevin Wale will exit Oct. 31, the automaker announced today. His successor will be Bob Socia, who currently serves as GM vice president of global purchasing and supply chain. Socia starts his new position Oct. 1.
Tim Lee will continue to serve as president of GM International Operations, which oversees the China and India units, among other foreign markets.
Wale, 57, did stints at GM's operations in Australia and Europe before becoming president of GM China Group in 2005.
During his tenure, GM sales in China grew from 560,000 to 2.5 million, the automaker said today.
"Kevin has been instrumental in strengthening our foundation in the largest vehicle market in the world," Lee said in a statement. "Delivering exceptional value related to General Motors' presence in China, he has made the company a recognized business leader and valued partner throughout Asia. We appreciate Kevin's nearly four decades of service to the company and wish him continued success."
Socia, 58, has been a top GM executive in many different units, including Europe, Latin America and Asia Pacific. In 2007, he was named executive vice president of Shanghai GM, the automaker's joint venture with a Chinese auto company called SAIC.
