Chrysler Confirms New Executive Departures

Deborah Wahl Meyer, Chrysler marketing chief and Phil Murtaugh, the Asia chief, are leaving the company, the American carmaker announced in a statement according to Autonews. While Meyer's departure is immediate, Murtaugh will leave Chrysler at the end of the month, the aforementioned source added. This is the second double-departure announced this month, after John Campi, global purchasing chief, and Simon Boag, service and parts chief, left Chrysler on December 15.

Responsibilities of the two leaving employees will fell on shoulders of several other executives, Autonews reported, with Steven Landry, Mike Manley and John Cataldo among the ones to become in charge of the aforementioned roles within the company.

Steven Landry, who currently works as executive vice president of North American sales, marketing and Mopar parts and service, will get in charge of brand marketing, media and events, advertising, interactive and customer relationship management.

Mike Manely, executive vice president of international sales, will be responsible for global product planning and corporate research while John Cataldo, vice president of business development, takes over Chrysler's development in Asia.

The two leaving executives were appointed in August 2007 once Cerberus Capital Management LP, Chrysler's majority owner, purchased the company. While Deborah Meyer worked for Toyota Motor Corporation and was responsible for the Lexus marketing department and the Lincoln Mercury marketing communications, Phil Murtaugh was in charge of General Motors' efforts in China.

Today's announcement is actually part of Chrysler plan to reorganize its global operations after approximately 5,000 white collars opted for buyout on November, Autonews explained, leaving several jobs open to new employees. However, this move can also be regarded as a strategy prepared by the company to revamp sales, as some analysts claimed that changing the executive board could prove to be a life-saving strategy for Chrysler.