Chrysler Shuffles Top Management

Having been run by the same people in the same positions ever since Italian manufacturer Fiat stepped in in 2009, Chrysler announced on Tuesday a reorganization of the top management, meant to insure a better transition to what is to become a Fiat majority control over the company.

The changes announced this week target four main Chrysler marking figures, Fred Diaz, Reid Bigland, Ralph Gilles and Joe Chama-Srour. All will be given increased responsibilities within the company, while at the same time retaining their current positions.

Diaz, aside for remaining president and CEO of the Ram Truck Brand, has been put in charge of the Chrysler de Mexico division as well. The man who ran the show in Mexico until now, Joe Chama-Srour, has been sent down the corporate ladder, somewhere in the International Operations department.

Reid Bigland, currently president and CEO of Chrysler Canada, will move to take over the Dodge Car Brand and has been put in charge of the US Sales department.

Perhaps the most interesting development in all of this is the appointment of Ralph Gilles, the man in charge with running the design departments of all the Chrysler brands, has been named the boss of what is to become Chrysler's new performance brand, SRT (Street and Racing Technology).

"Ralph has shown a very good penchant for the performance side of the business ... if you are creating a new brand for SRT, it seems like a natural fit for his kind of creativity," Aaron Bragman, automotive analyst with IHS Automotive, told Freep about the new boss of the new SRT.