Buy Photo
Johan de Nysschen, EVP and president, Global Cadillac, speaks at the Automotive News World Congress at the Marriott Renaissance Center in Detroit on Jan. 16, 2018. (Robin Buckson / The Detroit News)
(Photo: Robin Buckson / The Detroit News)Buy Photo
Cadillac President Johan de Nysschen, a longtime industry executive brought in to turn around General Motors Co.’s luxury brand, is leaving the automaker, effective immediately.
GM Canada’s president and manager, Steve Carlisle, has been tapped to replace de Nysschen. He is leaving the company to “pursue other interests,” GM said in a statement Wednesday.
De Nysschen, an industry veteran credited with turning around Audi, came to Cadillac in 2014 and set out to craft a new era for the GM luxury brand, moving the headquarters to a gallery space in Manhattan’s trendy SoHo neighborhood. He also led the launch of the SuperCruise hands-free driving system, the XT5 SUV and most recently, the XT4 in New York — Cadillac’s first compact SUV.
Despite these efforts, Cadillac continues to struggle in the U.S. market with a lineup that still favors sedans. The brand saw sales slip 8 percent in 2017, with only the CT6 sedan and the XT5 posting increases. And its market share sat just under 1 percent, trailing Audi, BMW and Mercedes —all of which field full complements of SUVs to capture around 2 percent of the market.
“We appreciate Johan’s efforts over the last four years in setting a stronger foundation for Cadillac,” GM president Dan Ammann said in the statement. “Looking forward, the world is changing rapidly, and, beginning with the launch of the new XT4, it is paramount that we capitalize immediately on the opportunities that arise from this rate of change. This move will further accelerate our efforts in that regard.”
One of de Nysschen’s greatest achievements is in China, the world’s largest vehicle market, where Cadillac grew its volume by nearly 51 percent in 2017 to drive a record-breaking year for the brand’s global sales.
Carlisle, who will report to Ammann, is expected to continue this global growth.
“The potential for Cadillac across the globe is incredible and I’m honored to be chosen to be a part of mapping that future,” Carlisle said in the statement. “I look forward to building on our current momentum as we continue on our mission to position Cadillac at the pinnacle of luxury.”
Carlisle has been running GM’s Canadian operations since 2014, where he led GM to the No. 1 spot in automotive retail sales in 2017, with Buick, GMC and Cadillac all achieving their best-ever sales years in Canada.
Travis Hester, currently GM’s vice president of global Product Programs, replaces Carlisle in Canada. He will report to Alan Batey, GM’s president of North America.
NNaughton@detroitnews.com
Read or Share this story: https://detne.ws/2HLOyDu