Holden Announces New Executive Director of Manufacturing

MELBOURNE – Apr 3, 2012: Richard Phillips has been named as GM Holden’s new Executive Director of Manufacturing, effective 1 April, 2012.

Locally-born and raised in Adelaide’s north, Mr Phillips, 41, began his career at Holden’s Elizabeth Operations as apprentice fitter and machinist in the maintenance team in 1987.

Awarded Holden’s apprentice of the year in 1991, Mr Phillips spent his early years in a number of supervisory and production planning roles at Holden Vehicle Operations.

In 2001, Mr Phillips moved to the role of Program Manager– VE and WM in the Manufacturing Engineering team in preparation for the introduction of the all-new Holden platforms. In 2003, he assumed the role of Director of Manufacturing Engineering and Facilities and was responsible for overseeing the execution of manufacturing requirements and plant readiness for Holden’s billion dollar VE program at Elizabeth.

Following the successful launch of the VE and WM program, Mr Phillips moved back to a production-based role in 2006 as Area Manager of Holden’s Body Shop.

In 2007, Mr Phillips undertook his first overseas assignment as GM North America’s Director of Body Manufacturing Engineering and Execution. While on assignment Mr Phillips oversaw a number of programs across Canada, the US, and Mexico including the introduction of the Chevrolet Volt program at GM’s Detroit-Hamtramck body shop facility.

Since returning from GM North America in 2009, Mr Phillips has held the role of Director – Vehicle Assembly Operations at Holden and played an integral role in the successful launch of the locally-made Holden Series II Cruze sedan and hatch in 2011.

In addition to his significant experience in manufacturing and engineering, Mr Phillips holds a master’s degree in business administration from the University of New South Wales. He is married with two children.

Mr Phillips is a member of Holden’s Senior Leadership Team and will report to GM Holden Chairman and Managing Director Mike Devereux.