Heath Walker tasked with bringing Lyriq to market here.

AN involver in establishing Tesla and its Model 3 in New Zealand and Australia is now at forefront of effort to establish a forthcoming Cadillac electric car here for a setup that so far represents heavy-drinking American petrol models.

General Motor Speciality Vehicles announced today it has hired Heath Walker (below) as its marketing director for New Zealand and Australia.

The Australian’s role is to lead the marketing for GMSV and launch the Cadillac brand, which will represent primarily with the electric Lyriq (above) due at end of this year.

He will also lead the marketing effort for Isuzu Trucks New Zealand.

GMSV is best known here as being the distributor for Chevrolet’s Corvette, which is soon to go to a plug-in electric drivetrain and will ultimately be electric, but for now runs a purely petrol-reliant V8.

GMSV also sells the Silverado large truck, which is also set to one become battery-reliant, yet also only represents in fossil fuel-reliant form here. The Yukon Denali sports utility that spawns off the Silverado is also in that state. It will launch here late this year. GMSV this week released the image below, of a Yukon undergoing testing in Australia.

Walker has held previous motor industry roles, in Australia, but his highest profile job was the almost five years he spent with Tesla, between 2015 and 2020, first as a senior marketer and then as head of marketing and communications.

He is credited with being instrumental in building the brand’s status in Australia and NZ during the period when the brand’s crucial volume-making Model 3 released.

He left Tesla is mid-2019, about a year before Tesla disbanded its global media relations division, and then held marketing jobs with the Australian Football League and then Scania trucks.

Jess Bala, Managing Director of GM Australia and New Zealand, says Walker lands at an exciting time.

“… as we prepare to launch the iconic Cadillac brand, as well as expand the GMSV offering to include the new GMC Yukon Denali in 2025.

“ We are delighted to welcome Heath to this new role in the team, his experience and leadership will be vital to our success in the coming years.”