In a sweeping overhaul of the languishing Chrysler marque, German-American car giant DaimlerChrysler has revamped the brand's sales and marketing division, naming two insiders for the hotseat.
Jeff Bell (41), the new vice president of marketing for Chrysler and Jeep, assumes responsibility for all product planning and sales. He was previously responsible only for Jeep.
In similar vein, Julie Roehm (33) adds Chrysler to her present Jeep and Dodge duties, taking the title director of marketing communications.
The duo replace Chrysler's vp of marketing Tom Marinelli (51) and former communications director Bonita Stewart (45), the latter switching to a relative backseat as director of interactive communications. Marinelli is "retiring for personal reasons".
The revamp comes in the wake of a bumpy year for the Chrysler marque, its attempt to reposition the brand upmarket taking a painful pratfall. The failed strategy was the brainchild of chief executive Dieter Zetsche and in June the company called in Joe Eberhardt as executive vice president-global sales, marketing and service.
Other winners/losers in the upheaval …
• Mark Norman (36) takes over from Ed Brust (59), who retires as chairman and president of DaimlerChrysler's Canadian division.
• David Olsen (49) is new controller of Chrysler Group, succeeding James Donlon III, who will retire after twenty-five years with the company.
• Christine MacKenzie (49) is the new vice president of corporate research and reporting.
The new team will have its hands full in the year to come. Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge between them will launch eight new vehicles, among them two critically important large cars, the Chrysler 300C and the Dodge Magnum
Data sourced from: The Wall Street Journal Online; additional content by WARC staff
