Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • European Rubber Journal
  • Plastics News
  • Tire Business
Subscribe
  • Login
  • Register
  • Subscribe
  • News
    • Tire
    • Airless Tires
    • Non-Tire
    • More News
    • Suppliers
    • Silicone
    • Latex
    • Technical Notebooks
    • Opinion
    • Online Exclusive
    • Special Reports
    • Automotive
    • Executive Action
    • Government/Legal
    • Sustainability
    • Blogs
      • Products
      • Wacky World of Rubber
    • Best Places to Work
    • War in Ukraine
    • Rubber Division IEC
    • ITEC
    • Women Breaking the Mold
  • PFAS
  • Custom
    • Sponsored Content
    • White Papers
  • Resources
    • Directory
    • Classifieds & Mold Mart
  • Data
  • Events
    • RN Events
    • RN Livestreams/Webinars
    • Industry Events
    • Past Events
    • Rubber News M&A Live
    • PFAS Live
    • Ask the Expert
    • International Tire Exhibition & Conference (ITEC)
    • Women Breaking the Mold Networking Forum
  • Advertise
  • DIGITAL EDITION
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. News
June 13, 2016 02:00 AM

GM names Tony Francavilla as head of global quality

Mike Colias
Automotive News
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print
    Tony Francavilla

    DETROIT—General Motors has appointed veteran manufacturing executive Tony Francavilla as its global quality chief.

    Francavilla, 58, replaces the departed Grace Lieblein, who retired at the end of 2015 after working in the position for about a year. Like Lieblein, he will report to GM CEO Mary Barra.

    GM has tasked Francavilla with helping to extend the automaker's recent run of improving vehicle-quality metrics, and help provide “the highest-quality vehicles as a foundation for its customers' experience,” GM said in a statement.

    “Tony's diverse technical expertise and global leadership experience position him well to further accelerate GM's progress in every aspect of vehicle quality,” Barra said in a statement.

    A GM lifer, Francavilla has served mainly in manufacturing-related posts during his 37-year career. He was most recently executive director of global supplier quality.

    Before that, Francavilla was plant manager at the Lansing, Mich., assembly plant that produces the Cadillac ATS and CTS sedans. He also led manufacturing operations at another Lansing plant that makes GM's large crossovers, the Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia and Chevrolet Traverse; and at its Flint, Mich., plant that assembles full-size pickups, GM said.

    GM's quality ratings have been rising in recent years. In February, it paced the industry with eight vehicle segment winners in J.D. Power's 2016 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study. It also has fared well in recent years in J.D. Power's Initial Quality Survey, which measures quality problems that pop up within the first 90 days of ownership.

    Francavilla's new position is also a key post for an automaker in its third year under federal oversight since its deadly ignition-switch defect surfaced. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration last month extended its oversight of GM's safety practices for another year as part of a sweeping consent order signed in 2014, when the company issued a broad recall of cars for faulty ignition switches now linked to at least 124 deaths.

    Francavilla spent time at GM plants overseas, too, including a plant-manager stint at GM's Ellesmere Port in the U.K., and as managing director of GM Poland. He has a bachelor's in engineering from McGill University in Montreal and an MBA from Niagara University in New York.

    A native of Canada, Francavilla began his career with GM in 1979 as a co-op student at GM Canada in St. Catharines.

    Related Articles
    GM executive Lieblein to retire at end of month
    GM, Maserati receive grants of inconsequential noncompliance
    GM names top suppliers
    GM loosens contract terms for tech supplier
    GM to idle four plants after earthquake
    Q&A GM exec lauds strides in supplier relationships
    Game is changing for vehicle cockpit component suppliers
    Letter
    to the
    Editor

    Rubber News wants to hear from its readers. If you want to express your opinion on a story or issue, email your letter to Editor Bruce Meyer at [email protected].

    Most Popular
    1
    Updated: UAW expands strike on Ford, GM
    2
    Freudenberg works to reduce CO2 footprint in facilities, compounding ingredients
    3
    UAW strike prompts smaller suppliers to seek federal aid
    4
    Egypt investors propose $1 billion tire plant project
    5
    Analysis: UAW strike just one issue to watch in auto industry
    SIGN UP FOR NEWSLETTERS
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please verify captcha.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    Get our newsletters

    Staying current is easy with Rubber News delivered straight to your inbox, free of charge.

    Subscribe Today

    Subscribe to Rubber News to get the best coverage and leading insights in the industry.

    SUBSCRIBE
    Connect with Us
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Twitter

    MISSION

    To serve companies in the global rubber product industry by delivering news, industry insights, opinions and technical information.

    Contact Us

    2291 Riverfront Pkwy, Suite 1000
    Cuyahoga Falls,
    OH 44221

    Customer Service:
    877-320-1726

    Resources
    • About Us
    • Digital Edition
    • Staff
    • Advertise
    • Order Reprints
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    • Terms of Service
    • Careers
    • Ad Choices
    • Sitemap
    Partner Sites
    • Tire Business
    • European Rubber Journal
    • Plastics News
    • Urethanes Technology
    • Automotive News
    • Crain Brands
    Copyright © 1996-2023. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • News
      • Tire
      • Airless Tires
      • Non-Tire
      • More News
        • Automotive
        • Executive Action
        • Government/Legal
        • Sustainability
        • Blogs
          • Products
          • Wacky World of Rubber
      • Suppliers
      • Silicone
      • Latex
      • Technical Notebooks
      • Opinion
      • Online Exclusive
      • Special Reports
        • Best Places to Work
        • War in Ukraine
        • Rubber Division IEC
        • ITEC
        • Women Breaking the Mold
    • PFAS
    • Custom
      • Sponsored Content
      • White Papers
    • Resources
      • Directory
      • Classifieds & Mold Mart
    • Data
    • Events
      • RN Events
        • International Tire Exhibition & Conference (ITEC)
        • Women Breaking the Mold Networking Forum
      • RN Livestreams/Webinars
      • Industry Events
      • Past Events
      • Rubber News M&A Live
      • PFAS Live
      • Ask the Expert
    • Advertise
    • DIGITAL EDITION