Sergio Marchionne, CEO of Fiat S.p.A. and Chrysler Group LLC, will retain oversight of the two automakers in North America under a single management team dominated by Fiat-bred executives. Hit the jump to read the rest of the story.
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Four regional chiefs will be in charge of Fiat and Chrysler operations in North America, South America, Europe and Asia effective Sept. 1. They will be part of a “group executive council” of 22 managers, including the CEO, Fiat said in a statement today.
Fourteen executives will come from the Fiat side, including three currently in positions with Chrysler. Five of the named executives were with Chrysler before Fiat rescued the U.S. automaker through a 2009 bankruptcy.
Michael Manley, who runs the Jeep brand, will be in charge of boosting sales and profit in Asia. Gianni Coda, head of purchasing at Fiat, was appointed to run operations in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Cledorvino Belini, head of Fiat in Brazil, will oversee South America, Fiat’s most profitable market.d
Saad Chehab, the brand communications chief behind Chrysler’s now famous “Born of Fire” Super Bowl ad, has been named head of the Chrysler brand. He will also run Lancia.
Chehab, hired by Marchionne after the bankruptcy, takes over for Olivier Francois, who becomes brand chief for Fiat. Francois will also remain chief creative officer.
Manley will also retain his top role at Jeep. And Reid Bigland will keep charge of Dodge.
Before the creation of the executive committee, Chrysler and Fiat executives had worked side by side in the two companies’ industrial functions, including engineering, design, purchasing, manufacturing, quality, powertrain and product portfolio.
