Nestlé Waters North America (NWNA) announced that David Tulauskas has joined the company as vice president and chief sustainability officer, effective March 4. Tulauskas replaces Nelson Switzer, who left NWNA last year to join Loop Industries.

Tulauskas comes from General Motors (GM), where he most recently served as sustainability director. In his new role, he will oversee NWNA’s sustainability operations and will be responsible for driving the company forward on its sustainability journey, with a focus on continuing to integrate sustainability into NWNA’s operations and brands. He will serve as a member of the NWNA executive team and will report to President and CEO Fernando Mercé.

“The beverage industry is in a unique position to change how Americans think about recycling, packaging and caring for water and our shared natural resources,” said Tulauskas in a statement. “I’m looking forward to implementing and enhancing NWNA’s strong legacy of sustainability efforts and collaborating with my peers and stakeholders to find new ways to care for our planet, communities and operations.”

As GM’s sustainability director, Tulauskas developed the company’s sustainability strategy and was responsible for target setting, reporting and external engagement with key stakeholders. This work resulted in the integration of sustainability into the company’s business model and throughout its operations. In his 27 years with GM, Tulauskas held various positions. He spent nearly half his career in Asia, helping GM expand its presence, including in China where he led the launch of Cadillac’s first vehicles.

“I am delighted David is joining the NWNA team,” said Mercé in a statement. “His track record for sustainable strategy and planning will be a tremendous asset to help us achieve our environmental, social and governance goals and further our leadership position in the bottled water industry.”