Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) announced on Monday a reshuffling of its executive team that basically splits pickup/SUV and passenger car brands under two executives. The changes, which are effective immediately, will increase responsibilities over other brands and operations for three top-level executives, while two other executives focus on more specialized roles away from the carmaker’s brands.
Mike Manley is now the appointed head of Ram Truck brand. His role as chief operating officer of the Asia Pacific Region and head of Jeep will not change. Ram brand head Bob Hegbloom now reports to Manley, but continues to manage Ram’s day-to-day operations.
The change-up of FCA’s North American upper management team means more responsibility and brands to Dodge boss Tim Kuniskis. The former head of Dodge and North America fleet operations will become a member of the Group Executive Council (GEC), the highest management level decision making body within the FCA organization, and now assumes responsibility for all NAFTA passenger car brands (Dodge, Chrysler, SRT and Fiat). Kuniskis’ previous experience as director of Chrysler marketing, and then head of Fiat for North America, will help immensely as he takes on his new role with the GEC.
Reid Bigland is now the appointed Head of NAFTA Fleet Operations. Bigland will continue his current GEC responsibility as FCA Canada chairman, president and CEO; North America head of sales; and head of Alfa Romeo in North America.
Al Gardner and Jason Stoicevich will have reduced roles. Gardner remains head of FCA’s dealer network, but loses responsibility of the Chrysler brand to Kuniskis. Stoicevich retains oversight of FCA’s California business center and assumes responsibility for fleet operations and small business sales, but leading the Fiat brand’s North American operations goes to Kuniskis.
The moves, according to a news release, were made to “ensure proper representation of all of Fiat Chrysler’s major brands on the GEC,” the highest management level decision-making body within Fiat Chrysler. All involved with the changes will remain a part of the company’s North American management team, led by Sergio Marchionne.
