Chrysler Group on Wednesday confirmed David Olsen as its new controller, replacing James Donlon who retires on December 31 after 25 years with the company. The group has also reorganised its global sales, marketing and service organisation to make it more efficient, making new appointments to key roles.
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Previously with DaimlerChrysler Services, the company’s financial arm, Olsen succeeds Donlon as senior vice president – controlling Chrysler and joining the group executive committee.
Olsen was vice president and chief financial officer of DaimlerChrysler Services from August 2000 and, like the retiring Donlon, will report to a DaimlerChrysler vice-president in Germany, Manfred Gentz, and Chrysler Group president and CEO Dieter Zetsche in the US.
“With nine new product launches in 2004, and a total of 25 product introductions within the next three years, it is imperative that we use our resources in the most efficient manner to help drive sales and profitability,” said DaimlerChrysler vice president Joe Eberhardt.
Jeff Bell is now vice-president of Chrysler/Jeep marketing, responsible for all marketing and product planning for both brands. Taking on a post previously filled by two people, he is also now in charge of the Chrysler brand previously headed by Tom Marinelli, who retires at the end of this year. Bell joined Chrysler in 2001 and previously headed Jeep marketing.
The group’s marketing head, George Murphy, said: “By creating a single source of responsibility for Chrysler and Jeep, we are encouraging a seamless interface between the brands, while maintaining individual brand identities, with separate and distinct product planning organisations.”
Julie Roehm is now director of marketing communications and Christine MacKenzie takes the newly-created post of vice president-corporate research and reporting, a job that centralises various functions, including the economist, sales reporting, and analysis of the customer dealership experience.
MacKenzie previously headed dealer operations, a post now filled by Mike Manley who was previously in charge of dealer development at DaimlerChrysler United Kingdom.
Mark Norman, is the new chairman and president of DaimlerChrysler Canada, having previously headed sales and marketing there. Norman joined Chrysler in 2001 and succeeds Ed Brust, who retires on December 31 after 36 years in the automotive industry.
