Chrysler appoints pair of exec VPs
They'll have sales, marketing roles
Steven J. Landry
April 28, 2007
The Chrysler Group announced Friday the promotion of two executives to the executive vice president ranks to replace Joe Eberhardt.
Eberhardt resigned in December from his role as executive vice president of global sales, marketing and service, to the cheers of dealers who blamed him for building more than 100,000 vehicles in the company's so-called sales bank -- vehicles that no dealer had ordered -- then strong-arming dealers to buy the surplus cars and trucks.
Steven J. Landry, who is currently vice president of sales and field operations, will take the role of executive vice president of North American sales, global marketing, service and parts.Michael Manley, who is vice president of sales and strategy and dealer operations, will become executive vice president of international sales, marketing and business development.
The company said both men will report to Chrysler Group CEO Tom LaSorda, who took over direct control of sales and marketing following Eberhardt's departure.
LaSorda said both men have challenges ahead of them: The company wants to reduce its fleet sales to 21% of total volume by 2009 and double its sales in markets outside North America in the next five years.
"Last December, I temporarily took responsibility for our sales and marketing in order to revamp our efforts and restore healthy relations with our dealer body," LaSorda said in a statement. "The team has made solid and substantial progress on both fronts. That is why the time is right to turn the reins of the sales and marketing leadership over to Steven, Michael and their new organizations."
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