J. David Allen retired from General Motors where he was the Executive Director for Africa and the Middle East and is renowned for his work with minority suppliers through his position as Director of GM’s Supplier Diversity Group and as Vice President of GM’s Motor Enterprise Inc.

While at GM Mr. Allen championed joint ventures and strategic alliances between minority suppliers and GM’s Tier 1 suppliers. GM increased their spend with minority suppliers in 1999 from $2.2 Billion to an unprecedented $4.0 Billion in 2001. In the same year GM Tier 1 suppliers procured an additional $1.1 Billion from minority suppliers. He credits GM, Harold Kutner, Vice President, and his Purchasing Group as well as the Supplier Diversity Staff, for helping support, implement and achieve these record setting minority purchasing goals.

Allen retired in 2002 and established Populus Group, a Human Resources Joint Venture with Allegis Group. He retired from Populus Group and is currently active in international trade consulting.