BS People: Lowell Paddock

Operations expert to lead GM India

Lowell Paddock is the new president and managing director of General Motors India, and he will assume office effective January 1, 2012. He will succeed Karl Slym, who moves to GM's largest operations in China as executive vice president of SAIC and Wuling Motors, which manufactures a growing lineup of mini-commercial vehicles and passenger cars.

Operating out of GM India’s headquarters in Gurgaon, Paddock is set to oversee GM’s operations across India, including its manufacturing facilities in Halol, Gujarat, and Talegaon in Maharashtra, as well as its joint venture with Chinese automaker SAIC.

Prior to this assignment, Paddock has held several important posts in product planning and programme management in the United States, Europe and Asia since joining General Motors in 1992. His previous positions include director, portfolio planning at GM Europe, vice president, planning at GM Asia Pacific, and executive director, planning and programme management at Shanghai.

Since September 1, 2009, Paddock has served as GMIO Vice president of programme management and planning, where he has had an oversight of GM’s product lineup in Asia Pacific, Africa, Middle East, Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the GM-AvtoVAZ joint venture and GM Korea.

“We are pleased to have someone with Lowell’s vast experience heading our rapidly expanding operations and the growth of the Chevrolet brand in one of the world’s most important vehicle markets. His background provides a perfect fit with what we aim to accomplish in India,” said GM international operations (GMIO) President Tim Lee.