GM Promotes New VP of Global Manufacturing

General Motors named Alicia Boler-Davis as executive vice president of global manufacturing, the Detriot-based auto maker announced Thursday.

Boler-Davis will replace Jim DeLuca, who is set to retire after a 37-year career in manufacturing, labor relations and quality. The transition of the roles is effective now, the company said in a press release. She began her career at GM in 1994, filling roles in engineering and manufacturing leadership.

Most recently, Boler-Davis served as senior vice president of global connected customer experience, which includes products like OnStar and the company’s customer service call centers. She has also served as head of global quality and customer experience and was plant manager of the Orion Assembly and Pontiac Stamping plants in Michigan. 

Boler-Davis received a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Northwestern University, a master’s degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in engineering, and an MBA from Indiana University.

“With all the change facing our industry in the next several years, Alicia’s vast and diverse experience and proven track record for delivering results will help ensure our global manufacturing performance and capabilities are aligned to meet the challenges ahead,” said GM Chairman and CEO Mary Barra. “Alicia’s strong manufacturing background, combined with her recent roles leading quality and the customer experience, will allow us to grow an even stronger customer-focused link to our people and processes in manufacturing.”

Boler-Davis will report directly to Barra.

Her predecessor, Jim DeLuca, began his career at GM in 1979 at the company’s Linden, NJ assembly plant. DeLuca was promoted to a number of senior-level manufacturing positions before being appointed vice president of quality for GM Asia Pacific and GM Daewoo Auto & Technology in 2007. Before heading up GM’s global manufacturing, DeLuca served as vice president of manufacturing for GMIO.