General Motors and Duramax announced Takashi Sadaoka will lead the diesel-engine builder and shuffled the plant’s top manager to the Chief Operating Officer role. Sadaoka replaces Shinichi Suzuki, who will return to Japan after heading the company since 2013.
The plant, based in Moraine, Ohio, builds the Duramax 6.6-liter turbo-diesel engines used in Chevrolet and GMC heavy-duty pickups.
Duramax’s lead plant manager, Pat Curtis, also gains a new role as COO, GM said. The Duramax board of directors promoted Curtis to the position as a new member to the management team. The COO joins the CEO and CFO positions. Curtis was only at the plant for a year, but has worked for GM for 33 years.
The Duramax company remains a joint-venture between General Motors and Japan’s Isuzu. GM owns 60 percent of the company, while Isuzu Diesel Services of America retains 40 percent.
Comment
A little strange that the president is an Isuzu executive when Duramax is 60% owned by GM and GM takes 100% of the production. Nonetheless I am sure Mr. Sadaoka is very competent and a good choice for the position.
I wonder if the Duramax plant will start producing engines for Isuzu.