GM leadership changes include a new president of North American operations

General Motors Co. on Wednesday detailed changes to its product development team — including creating a new role to oversee global regions to "streamline the organization, allow for faster implementation of new vehicle and technology programs, and accelerate the company’s go-to-market strategies."

The changes are effective Jan. 2. They come as Doug Parks, GM's executive vice president of global product development, purchasing and supply chain, elected to retire after nearly 40 years with the Detroit automaker. Parks started at GM in 1984 and led various engineering teams.

The leadership changes include promoting Marissa West, currently president and managing director of GM Canada, to GM's global markets leadership team as senior vice president and president of GM North America — the first woman appointed to that post. She will report to Rory Harvey, president of GM North America, who is moving into a newly created role as president of global markets, where he will work to regional teams to offer customers the right vehicles and technologies.  

The automaker also is promoting Ken Morris, currently vice president, global vehicle and propulsion teams, to senior vice president of product programs, product safety and motorsports. Morris will retain his current responsibilities of leading global vehicle programs and now will oversee global product safety, launch excellence and motorsports product development.

Additionally, Josh Tavel, currently global vice president of customer care and aftersales, will become senior vice president of energy storage and propulsion, research and development and manufacturing engineering.

khall@detroitnews.com

@bykaleahall