Chrysler Corporation Names Stallkamp President
4 December 1997
Chrysler Corporation Names Stallkamp President; Four New Officers Named And Several Others Reassigned; Vice Chairman and Three Officers Announce Retirements
AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Dec. 4 -- The Chrysler Corporation
Board of Directors today announced the election of Thomas T.
Stallkamp as President of Chrysler Corporation, effective January 1, 1998.
Several other organizational changes, including the election of four new
officers, the reassignment of several others and the retirements of Vice
Chairman Thomas G. Denomme and three other corporate officers, were announced
concurrently.
"Today's announcements signal the creation of the organization that will
lead Chrysler into the 21st century," said Chrysler Chairman Robert J. Eaton.
"We are blessed with a depth of talent throughout the organization, a depth
that actually made the selection of a President an even more difficult
decision for the Board. The organizational actions we're announcing today
represent my confidence and the Board's in our new senior management team and
their ability to take on new responsibilities.
"Tom Stallkamp's role at Chrysler over the past several years has been
critical to our success both in our production processes and in our efforts to
reduce costs and to generate new ideas. His grasp of the automobile business
and of Chrysler's operations and our operating style will enable him to make a
fast, smooth transition to his new role. I am absolutely confident he'll hit
the ground running and will continue to make even more important contributions
to Chrysler's ongoing success," Eaton said.
As part of the realignment announced today, one current officer was
elevated to the position of Executive Vice President and three current
Executive Vice Presidents and three Vice Presidents had their responsibilities
changed.
Thomas C. Gale, formerly Executive Vice President - Product Development,
was appointed Executive Vice President - Product Strategy, Design and External
Affairs and General Manager -- Jeep Operations. In his new assignment, Gale
will be focusing on developing advanced product strategy for the corporation
and the direction of future automotive vehicle concepts. In addition, Mr.
Gale has been given expanded responsibilities in the area of regulatory
affairs and government affairs at the federal, state and local levels. He
will report directly to Mr. Eaton.
James P. Holden, Executive Vice President - Sales and Marketing adds
General Manager - Minivan Operations to his title and gets added
responsibility for Communications, Chrysler de Mexico and minivan platform
operations.
Theodor R. Cunningham, formerly Executive Vice President - Chrysler
Corporation and President and Managing Director, Chrysler de Mexico, was
appointed Executive Vice President - International. Cunningham will be
replaced by M.G. Bryant III as President and Managing Director - Chrysler de
Mexico.
Thomas P. Sidlik, formerly Vice President of Chrysler Corporation and
Chairman of Chrysler Financial Corporation, was named Executive Vice President
- Procurement and Supply replacing Stallkamp. Sidlik will continue in his
role as General Manager - Small Car Operations.
Rex L. Franson, formerly Vice President - Quality and Serviceability, was
appointed Vice President - Chrysler Corporation and President - Chrysler
Financial Corporation.
Arthur C. Liebler, formerly Vice President - Communications, was appointed
Vice President - Marketing.
M. John MacDonald, formerly Vice President - Marketing, was appointed Vice
President - Sales and Service.
Newly named to vice presidential positions are:
Darrell L. Davis, Vice President - Chrysler Corporation and Chairman,
Chrysler Financial Corporation. Davis had been President of Chrysler
Financial.
Steven J. Harris, Vice President - Communications. Harris had been
Executive Director - Public Relations.
Richard O. Schaum, Vice President - Quality and Serviceability and General
Manager - Power Train Operations. Schaum had been General Manager - Truck
Platform Engineering.
Chris P. Theodore, Vice President - Platform Engineering. Theodore had
been General Manager - Small Car Platform Engineering.
The executives electing to retire include:
Thomas G. Denomme, Vice Chairman and Chief Administrative Officer.
Denomme also will retire from the Chrysler Corporation Board of Directors
effective December 31, 1997. Denomme joined the Company in 1980 and has been
an officer since 1981.
Francois J. Castaing, Executive Vice President - International. Castaing
is giving up his day-to-day responsibilities but will remain on special
assignment as technical advisor to the Company, reporting to Mr. Eaton,
beginning January 1, 1998 and continuing until his planned retirement at age
55. Castaing joined Chrysler in 1987 as part of Chrysler's acquisition of
American Motors Corporation.
E. Thomas Pappert, Vice President - Sales and Service. Pappert, who
joined Chrysler in 1962 and has been a vice president since 1981, will remain
with the Company through March, 1998, as Vice President - Dealer Relations.
Leroy C. Richie, Vice President and General Counsel - Automotive Affairs.
Richie joined Chrysler in 1983 and has been in his present position since
1986. His retirement will be effective December 31, 1997.
"The election of Tom Stallkamp as President, along with the realignments
in the officer team and the new officers being named today make our already
strong team even stronger," Eaton said. "I've spent five years working with
this team and all of them have demonstrated leadership ability and creativity
that will enable Chrysler to continue to develop innovative, industry-leading
products and programs that will keep us on track for continued growth. The
organizational realignments also will bring the staffs and operations closer
together and will give all of our executives an opportunity to further broaden
their individual experience levels.
"At the same time we celebrate this new organization," Eaton concluded,
"it is difficult to be losing four senior officers, each of whom has played a
critical role in Chrysler's success over the past several years. They are all
a big part of the Chrysler success story of the nineties. We appreciate their
wisdom and all they have done for the team they're leaving behind and we wish
each of them continued success in their very well earned retirements."
SOURCE Chrysler Corporation