Sadaoka will manage the plant that makes Duramax diesel engines for heavy-duty trucks. DMAX is home to the Duramax 6.6L turbo diesel engine used in the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra trucks.
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With 35 years of experience in the automotive industry, Sadaoka started with Isuzu Motors Limited at its Tokyo headquarters in 1983. He worked his way up through management positions and was most recently vice president of the company’s Aftersales Division in Thailand.
Sadaoka replaces Shinichi Suzuki, who led the plant since August 2013. Suzuki will be returning to Isuzu in Japan.
Also, the plant manager, Pat Curtis, has been appointed as chief operating officer (COO) by the DMAX board of directors, GM said. He will become an officer of the company and a member of the management team, which will be comprised of the chief executive, chief financial officer and now the COO.
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Curtis has been at the engine plant for a year. He started his 33-year career with the Packard Electric Division of GM and worked at both GM and Delphi at nine locations in the U.S. and Canada.
DMAX has produced more than 2.15 million engines through April 2018 and employs almost 800 people in Moraine. GM owns 60 percent and Isuzu Diesel Services of America, Inc. owns 40 percent of the DMAX joint venture.
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