DETROIT — Steve Carlisle, General Motors' next North American chief, faces an unprecedented set of tasks: protect GM's most profitable region during a pandemic, and continue to churn out lucrative internal-combustion vehicles while investing in an electric vehicle future.

The 58-year-old Canadian will leave his post as president of Cadillac to oversee all of GM's North American operations starting Sept. 1. He replaces Barry Engle, who is leaving the automaker.

Carlisle led Cadillac as it began a three-year product blitz that includes a new vehicle about every six months and as the luxury brand was chosen to lead GM's push into EVs. He also moved Cadillac's headquarters back to Michigan from Manhattan and announced plans to resume using names for upcoming vehicles instead of alphanumerics.