General Motors Implements Leadership Changes in Global Logistics Teams
General Motors (GM) has recently undergone a series of leadership changes and appointments within its worldwide logistics departments. These changes span various areas, including finished vehicle logistics, inbound material management, and procurement.
One notable change is the appointment of Cristina Bueno Learman as the new Director of Global Finished Vehicle Logistics, succeeding Anthony Clevio in this role. Learman, previously the Director of Global Inbound Logistics, now hands over this responsibility to Alexander Burnett, who previously held the position of Director of Value Chain Engineering and Cost Knowledge Management.
Prashant Swadia has also assumed the role of Director of Global Logistics Purchasing, taking over from Juan Pablo (JP) Gonzalez.
All these shifts in logistics leadership continue to be overseen by Renee Wawrzynski, who has held the position of Executive Director of Global Logistics since the start of 2023.
Introducing Fresh Expertise to Navigate Evolving Challenges in Vehicle Logistics
Cristina Learman boasts a tenure of over 18 years at GM, encompassing roles across procurement and supply chain management. Her responsibilities have spanned diverse areas such as direct commodity sourcing for materials like steel, infotainment systems, body structures, fascias, engines, transmissions, and exterior lighting. Joining the global logistics division in the summer of 2021, she initially handled global logistics purchasing before taking over inbound logistics in 2022 during a period of significant disruptions across air and container freight, semiconductor shortages, and material scarcities. Her contributions were instrumental in mitigating these challenges while also supporting GM’s operations in Mexico. With roots in Brazil, Learman initially worked at automotive suppliers before pursuing her studies in Michigan in 2001.
Given her proven ability to manage disruptions, Learman is well-suited to lead finished vehicle logistics. This segment has grappled with substantial capacity shortages and lead time delays over the past year, particularly in North America and other regions. Challenges have surfaced in rail logistics services, global ro-ro ocean transport, port capacities, and Mexico. Automotive industry leaders, including Jeff Morrison, Vice President of Global Purchasing and Supply Chain, consider vehicle logistics among the top global concerns. Even as GM has had to revamp intricate networks and secure additional capacity for vehicle logistics—employing tactics like containerized vehicle shipping and increased dealer pickup and driveaway options—the surge in vehicle imports from Asia, especially South Korea, has compelled GM to rely more heavily on West Coast ports, straining rail capabilities further. Moreover, the shift towards electric vehicle distribution, entailing altered load factors and charging requisites, presents an additional layer of adaptation.
Renee Wawrzynski remarked, “Finished vehicle logistics is a critically important area for GM as we increase production to meet customer demands, and we prepare our network to move increasing volumes of electric vehicles.” Learman’s success in managing intricate supply chains positions her to collaborate with partners in tackling bottlenecks and readying for growth and transformations across GM’s global network.
Effective Cost Management in an Ever-Morphing Inbound Supply Chain
Alex Burnett brings extensive experience in cost management and supply chain engineering to the role of overseeing inbound logistics. With a 16-year tenure at GM, Burnett has held pivotal roles in logistics engineering, logistics design, advanced purchasing, cost optimization, and operational excellence. During a three-year period, he was stationed at GM’s Tonawanda powertrain plant in New York, where he managed finances for the plant and the Lockport Components plant. His most recent responsibility centered on value chain engineering and cost knowledge management, exploring synergies in costs and operations.
Though some of the disruptions that previously rocked inbound logistics have subsided—including heightened container shipping costs, air freight challenges, and semiconductor shortages—the supply chain’s fragility remains. Ongoing issues and instability persist among smaller suppliers, particularly at the tier-2 and tier-3 levels. The industry also grapples with a shortage of crucial logistics workers, including drivers. As GM escalates electric vehicle production, the challenge compounds as the company navigates complexities in emerging segments, including the battery supply chain.
Wawrzynski stated, “Inbound logistics remains incredibly dynamic, and GM continues to invest in technology and partners that will help us to improve visibility, planning and keep our production plans on track.” Given Burnett’s experience across logistics engineering and cost control within production and supply chain contexts, his role becomes pivotal in managing newfound intricacies and opportunities, especially in the realm of scaling battery and EV output.
Strategizing Purchasing Logistics for Long-Term Impact
Prashant Swadia now holds the reins for global logistics purchasing, marking the culmination of his 26-year journey at General Motors, where he has been engaged in procurement across a wide spectrum of commodities and services. Originating from India, Swadia embarked on his career in program planning, interiors, and exterior purchasing. His leadership extended to indirect purchasing covering logistics, customs, and back-office operations in India and the Asia Pacific. Subsequently, he led purchasing efforts related to interior and safety components for GM regions in Asia, Africa, and emerging markets, stationed in South Korea.
Swadia’s presence in the Detroit area since 2016 has seen him assume various global purchasing roles, encompassing supplier relations, training, compliance, and oversight for chassis and body structures. His more recent responsibilities incorporated strategy, governance, systems, data analytics, training, compliance, and supply chain resilience. Moreover, he spearheaded initiatives for socially responsible supply chains and ethical sourcing.
In his new capacity, Swadia faces parallel objectives in purchasing logistics services, including capitalizing on data analytics and fostering resilience. Additionally, he will oversee measurements and KPIs that extend beyond cost and delivery performance, encompassing areas such as carbon emissions reduction, technology investments, and robust supplier relationships.
Renee Wawrzynski underscored the significance of partnerships with logistics providers, stating, “GM can’t achieve its electrification and net carbon zero goals without strong partnerships with our logistics providers.” Swadia’s adeptness in nurturing strong relations and forging forward-looking agreements aligns with GM’s aspiration to collaborate with logistics providers to foster growth and alignment with long-term plans.
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