Kevin E. Wale

President and Managing Director,GM China Group

Kevin E. Wale was appointed president and managing director of the GM China Group, effective May 1, 2005. Based in Shanghai, Wale is responsible for the overall coordination of GM's extensive operations in mainland China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong.

Wale earlier served as vice president of General Motors Europe and chairman and managing director of Vauxhall Motors Ltd., responsible for GM's U.K. operations, since November 2002. He had additional responsibilities leading GM Europe's commercial vehicle activities, since October 2004.

Wale began his GM career with Holden, the automaker's Australian unit, in 1975, working in various roles within the company's finance department. After completing studies at the General Motors Institute (GMI) in the United States, he moved to the GM Financial Staff in New York, where he worked between 1983 and 1985.

Returning to Australia in 1985, Wale took up the first of a series of posts in the finance division of Holden, ultimately assuming the position of director of finance and strategic planning. In 1993, he became director of sales, marketing, and aftersales, a position he held until 1998.

He was appointed executive in charge of operations for GM Asia Pacific in September 1998. Based in Singapore, Wale was responsible for the general management of GM's operations across the region.

In August 2001, he moved to Vauxhall Motors as managing director and was appointed vice president of GM Europe. He also served as a member of the GM Europe Strategy Board.

A native of Melbourne, Australia, Wale has a Bachelor of Commerce degree with honors from Melbourne University and did additional study at GMI, now Kettering University. In September 2009, he received the Magnolia Award from the Shanghai Municipal Government for his contribution to the economic and social development of Shanghai; In November, Wale was elected as the AmCham Shanghai 2010 Board of Governors.