GM Designer Bryan Nesbitt New Buick Global Design Boss
Longtime General Motors designer Bryan Nesbitt is now Buick’s global design boss as part of the automaker’s shuffling of chief designers.
Nesbitt enters the role as he returns from a four-year stint heading design for both GM China and GM’s international operations division, Automotive News reports. He joined the automaker in 2001 following the introduction of one of his major hits, the Chrysler PT Cruiser, in 2000. Since then, he has led design teams involving the 2007 Saturn Aura, 2008 Buick Enclave, 2013 Cadillac ATS and 2014 Escalade.
Nesbitt replaces Buick and Cadillac global design chief Andrew Smith, who has held the roles since September 2013; Smith will continue on as Cadillac’s executive global designer. Meanwhile, Nesbitt will be replaced at GM China with Chevrolet’s truck design head Ken Parkinson, who shared the brand’s overall design duties with car design boss John Cafaro; Cafaro will now helm both halves.
The changes in design leadership were made to “emphasize” each of GM’s global brands, according to a representative, and took effect June 1.
[Photo credit: General Motors]
Seattle-based writer, blogger, and photographer for many a publication. Born in Louisville. Raised in Kansas. Where I lay my head is home.
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If Maximum Bob trusted him with the resurrected Malibu, why shouldn't GM trust him with Buick?
What is wrong with the looks of the Cobalt coupe, Sky, Solstice,and the G-6? There was nothing wrong with the looks of either only the cheapening of the materials. I wasn't a big fan of the retro PT Cruiser but it sold well. The Saturn Aura was a nice looking car. Don't blame the designer for the final product which has been produced with the bean counters and the suits having the final input. As for Buick at least they are appealing to a younger demographics. The Buick LaCross is not a bad looking car it just has small windows. The Enclave is a nice vehicle as well it is just a little pricey. Does it really matter that GM is using Opel platforms and tweaking the design for their cars? Opel has made some good vehicles in the past. Doesn't Ford use their own European designs for the Fusion, Focus, and Fiesta? How about Chrysler with the Dart and the 200? The days of the US based manufacturers designing their own vehicles from the ground up is past with the exception of full size pickups. It is just too expensive and the US market although large is not the largest market when you compare it to Asia especially China. Most of us have to get use to the US not being Number 1 in everything. The twentieth century was America's century and the twenty first century will become China's.
I do think if Nesbitt has read some of the comments in this article he'll get a haircut. A crew cut? Boy, we are harsh, but it's all tongue in cheek, Nesbitt. Never judge a book by it's cover we are told. I know the feeling. Why have the cover on your "book" if you don't like it? In all honesty judging by his haircut I view Nesbitt as bit of a ego centric person. Worried only about perception, that's why he is a designer. Is his hair style for him? Or is it for the perception he wants others to view? I think the latter. Oh, I'm exceptionally opinionated.
Does a haircut and an open shirt determine how well a designer or anyone does their job? Nesbitt has a good track record and that alone should be enough.