Johan de Nysschen has been the face of Cadillac for nearly four years but he is leaving the company effective immediately.
In a surprise announcement, General Motors said de Nysschen is leaving to “pursue other interests.” The company was coy on details but GM President Dan Ammann said the automaker appreciated de Nysschen’s efforts in “setting a stronger foundation for Cadillac.”
Being Replaced By Steve Carlisle
de Nysschen will be replaced by Steve Carlisle who was previously president and managing director of GM Canada. While the company had little to say about de Nysschen, they praised Carlisle by saying he led a resurgence of GM Canada and “reestablished key relationships” with retailers, employees and government officials.
In a statement, Ammann noted “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.” He went to say appointing Carlisle as Cadillac President will “further accelerate our efforts in that regard.”
Move Comes Ahead Of Major Product Blitz
The timing of the announcement is interesting as Cadillac is embarking on a major product blitz. Just last month, de Nysschen described the push as a “dramatic expansion and elevation of the product range” which will see Cadillac introduce an all-new model nearly every six months through 2021.
Cadillac didn’t elaborate but reports have suggested the company will introduce a large crossover later this year. The CT5 will debut shortly thereafter and it will eventually be joined by an entry-level sedan. The company also has plans for a halo vehicle that will “stun the world” but it won’t arrive until after 2022.
