General Motors' Australian boss exits

General Motors (GM) has confirmed its Australia and New Zealand managing director, Jess Bala, has left the company with immediate effect after three years in the role.

Greg Rowe, GM Australia and New Zealand’s director of sales and operations, has been appointed acting managing director, but a permanent successor hasn't been announced.

Ms Bala became the first woman and, at 39, the youngest person to lead GM Australia and New Zealand (GM ANZ) when she took the top job in September 2023.

“Following an accomplished two-decade career with General Motors [GM], Managing Director of GM Australia and New Zealand, Jess Bala, has elected to depart the company,” a GM ANZ spokesperson told CarExpert.

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“In her time as GM Australia and New Zealand Managing Director, Jess drove the growth of our world-class portfolio, including Cadillac EVs, Corvette and full-size trucks and SUVs.

“We thank Jess for her contribution to the business and wish her well in her future endeavours. Greg Rowe, currently Director of Sales and Operations, will serve as Acting Managing Director.”

After completing a law and commerce degree at Monash University, Ms Bala began her career in the parts division at Holden’s headquarters in Port Melbourne before moving into product planning.

She relocated to GM’s headquarters in Detroit, Michigan, in the US in 2013, working on global models and the automaker’s electric vehicle (EV) programs.

Ms Bala served as chief of staff to GM chair and CEO Mary Barra between April 2021 and January 2022 before becoming Cadillac’s director of global product planning and product strategy.

She returned to Australia in 2023 as managing director of GM Australia and New Zealand, where she spearheaded Cadillac’s local introduction in 2024 as an electric-only brand, following its aborted relaunch in 2008.

Ms Bala also oversaw the rollout of the Chevrolet Corvette, announced for Australia prior to her appointment, and the expansion of the GM Specialty Vehicles (GMSV) range to include models such as the GMC Yukon.

She was also a common sight at Supercars events, where the Chevrolet Camaro competes against the Ford Mustang in Australia’s premier motorsport category.

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