General Motors (NYSE: GM) said today that Kristian Aquilina, current GM Canada vice president, vehicle sales, service and marketing is now GM Canada president and managing director, effective immediately. Aquilina will report to Marissa West, who was previously appointed to senior vice president and president, GM North America. (AutoInformed: Happy New Year! GM Reorganizes Regions and PD; GM Canada – Marissa West now President, Scott Bell moves to VP Global Chevrolet in US)
“I look forward to collaborating with our employees, our strong network of Canadian dealers and our many other community and industry partners across the country. Together, we’ll unleash even more opportunities for GM Canada to lead during this period of historic transformation,” said Aquilina.
Aquilina joined GM Canada in 2023 as vice president of vehicle sales, service, and marketing, bringing global experience to the Canadian dealer network and GM Canada. GM Canada led the industry in total market share and total sales for 2023 – the first time since 2009. Prior to joining Canada, Aquilina was the managing director of Cadillac International Operations and Cadillac Middle East. He also served as chair and managing director for GM Holden in Australia and New Zealand.
“Our Canadian manufacturing plants are also set to thrive with recent new investments in Oshawa Assembly, St. Catharines Propulsion Plant and CAMI Assembly. The Canadian Technical Centre continues to be a hotbed of innovation in software, R&D and advanced vehicle testing. We’ve also just begun to tap into the potential for Canada in the emerging raw mineral and EV battery supply chain, beginning with the new Ultium CAM processing facility in Bécancour, Quebec,” Aquilina said.
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About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
Kristian Aquilina New GM Canada President
General Motors (NYSE: GM) said today that Kristian Aquilina, current GM Canada vice president, vehicle sales, service and marketing is now GM Canada president and managing director, effective immediately. Aquilina will report to Marissa West, who was previously appointed to senior vice president and president, GM North America. (AutoInformed: Happy New Year! GM Reorganizes Regions and PD; GM Canada – Marissa West now President, Scott Bell moves to VP Global Chevrolet in US)
“I look forward to collaborating with our employees, our strong network of Canadian dealers and our many other community and industry partners across the country. Together, we’ll unleash even more opportunities for GM Canada to lead during this period of historic transformation,” said Aquilina.
Aquilina joined GM Canada in 2023 as vice president of vehicle sales, service, and marketing, bringing global experience to the Canadian dealer network and GM Canada. GM Canada led the industry in total market share and total sales for 2023 – the first time since 2009. Prior to joining Canada, Aquilina was the managing director of Cadillac International Operations and Cadillac Middle East. He also served as chair and managing director for GM Holden in Australia and New Zealand.
“Our Canadian manufacturing plants are also set to thrive with recent new investments in Oshawa Assembly, St. Catharines Propulsion Plant and CAMI Assembly. The Canadian Technical Centre continues to be a hotbed of innovation in software, R&D and advanced vehicle testing. We’ve also just begun to tap into the potential for Canada in the emerging raw mineral and EV battery supply chain, beginning with the new Ultium CAM processing facility in Bécancour, Quebec,” Aquilina said.
AutoInformed on
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn. He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe. Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap. AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks. Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.