General Motors has just appointed Tim Heile as Cadillac China’s new Vice President and General Director of Cadillac Sales and Marketing at SAIC-GM, the manufacturer’s main joint venture that manages the luxury brand’s operations in the Asian country.
Tim Heile
Tim Heile’s appointment as the new Vice President of Cadillac China and responsible for the brand in the SAIC-GM structure is effective from March 1st, when the executive assumed his role at Cadillac’s facilities in Jinqiao, Pudong, in the Shanghai metropolitan area. Heile joined GM in January this year, after holding various marketing leadership positions with other luxury automakers in Europe and Asia over the past 20 years.
Cadillac House Shanghai
“Our Cadillac teams in China will benefit from Tim’s extensive experience in China, Germany and other markets,” said Global Cadillac Vice President, Rory Harvey. “Cadillac is reestablishing its position as the pinnacle of the industry through innovative technology and design and a strong focus on electrification. Tim’s deep understanding of the luxury vehicle business and EV-focused marketing expertise will help us keep up the brand’s great momentum,” he added.
Indeed, the automaker claims that Tim Heile will usher Cadillac into a new era in China by strengthening the brand’s position in its largest volume market. Prior to joining GM, Heile spent most of his career at the BMW Group covering roles at the headquarters in Munich, Germany, for Product Management, Sales and Marketing, as well as different leadership assignments in Asia, including Thailand and Japan.
In particular, Tim Heile played a key role within BMW in integrating the marketing organization into the company’s global digitalization strategy with a special focus on electric vehicles. He was also involved in the successful launch of the BMW i EV sub-brand and the development of the entire range including marketing planning, establishing an electric vehicle roadmap, product management and customer relations.
The German executive was later hired by Nissan Motor Corporation and served as General Manager of Marketing and Public Relations at Dongfeng Infiniti in China, before becoming the global head of Customer Experience for the luxury brand at the parent company’s headquarters in Japan. Tim Heile’s extensive leadership experience gives him a solid foundation to execute the rollout of Cadillac’s electric vehicle portfolio in China.
“I am excited to join Cadillac in one of the most robust and competitive luxury markets anywhere,” said Tim Heile. “Cadillac is in a great position to leverage GM’s global resources together with the forces of our SAIC-GM joint venture to meet the rapidly changing preferences of local customers,” he finished.
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Comments
I like Cadillac, but “ pinnacle of the industry ” is a stretch…
I can’t imagine wanting a job in China…just not a place I’d want to be…at any salary.
This guy sure has jumped around a lot. I wonder when and where his next move will take him.
Must be a thrilling time to enter China now after the re-opening. Many new brands entering the game but Cadillac has an incredible legacy that no one can copy. Paired with their future focus on EV this may become a super exciting journey. All the best !!
That’s good news! Cadillac has fantastic cars coming. Nice to finally have EV focus. This Celestiq is amaaaazing. Like from another Star. And must be rocket fast. Great to hear things go forward. China so important!