Jim Press Leaves Toyota (For Chrysler!?!)

[YSSMAN]

Despite recently renewing his contract with Chrysler, it's looking more and more like Tom LaSorda's days at the automaker are numbered. This morning, Chrysler Chairman and CEO Bob Nardelli revealed that Jim Press would be joining the company as Vice Chairman and President, the same title LaSorda has on his recently-updated business cards. Until today, Press had been none other than President and COO of Toyota North America, quietly leading the Japanese automaker's charge in the U.S. for more market share.

Press will be in charge of North American Sales, International Sales, Global Marketing, Product Strategy, and Service and Parts ,while LaSorda is still responsible for manufacturing, purchasing, labor and Global Business Development and Alliances.

Full Press Release Here

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I guess its a good thing. I do find it hard not to like Jim Press, so having him on-board at Chrysler will certainly be a bonus. Problem is, they still don't have real "Car Guys" running Chrysler, or even Toyota for that matter. Lets hope Press can sort out the crap that has been flying out of Auburn Hills, God knows Chrysler needs it right now...

 

[TestECull]

Agreed. They need a gearhead like one of us in there, someone that knows what it's like to finely mince their knuckles on the radiator because the engine's too close to it to do a belt change, or have to pull the dash to change the spark plugs on a sports car (F-body GM, report in!) However, with Toyota's head honcho heading to Dodge, I see good things in their future..

 

[The Vanishing Boy]

->...

^ I think Jim will do a great job compared to LaSorda ever was, or maybe a mole for Toyota.

 

[Tornado]

Yeah, like Toyota needs to be spying on Chrysler.



I would be surprised if there wasn't a scandal or something of that sort brewing within Toyota that would force the departure of Press, and he saw Chrysler as a way to immediately get a new job. Seriously, not only was he essentially running the American arm with no interference from the Japanese arm (the holy grail for a foreign executive of a Japanese company), but he was on the supervisory board (and was the only foreigner who was) of the company as well.
Not only is he going from a more successful (and as such, easier to run) company to a less successful one, but he is also going from a position of immense power to a position he has to divide with another (most likely soon to be leaving) executive, both of which are under the shadow of power from someone else. Without a blackmail angle, it simply doesn't make sense.


Regardless of which, it is a win-win for Chrysler. I personally don't think Chrysler needs a car guy in charge like Ford does (and GM did). They already have car-guy cars on sale, so all they need to do is make them not rival Hyundai Pony's for interior quality and they are set.

 

[YSSMAN]

Agreed for the most part. I think the great thing about Press is that he is very enthusiastic about what he does, and hopefully that will translate over the Chrysler. They really, IMO, haven't had a straightforward and enthusiastic leader since Iacoca, so hopefully Press will do much the same.

But as to what the overall effect will be, its hard to say. We're a long way before one man can change a company. Look how long it took Lutz's work to take hold...

 

[JCE]

Like an employee from TOYOTA is going to make CHRYSLER any better? Have you people not SEEN a Toyota lately? Looks like the blind leading the blind to me.

 

[Tornado]

More people seem to be jumping ship from other companies to join Chrysler:

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Industry News: [/FONT] [SIZE=-1]More talents hired by new Chrysler

Following Toyota's Jim Press, two more talents joined the new Chrysler management:

Phil Murtaugh joins Chrysler as the head of its Asian operations. He was the key person behind GM and SAIC's joint-venture in China, which was the most profitable business of GM. He used to work as the chief of GM China, but last year simply jumped to the Chinese company. Now his experience could help Chrysler to increase share of the world's third largest car market, which was foolishly ignored by DaimlerChrysler. How about a joint venture with SAIC ?

Another big guy is Tom Gale, yes, the design maestro who shaped every Chrysler from 1985 to 2002. While he won't head up the design studio again, he will serve as a consultant to Chrysler's design activities.[/SIZE]

Linky.

Its nice to see Gale back, as now we might get competently style cars. And Murtaugh in the fold, Chrysler may be able to get a foot into China. A good thing, since Daimler seemed to be okay with ignoring the rapidly growing market. This sounds like a dream team good enough to rival the Lutz/Iacocca turnaround of the late 80's.

 

[YSSMAN]

Lets hope so. While they're at it, maybe they could focus on bringing some jobs back to Michigan...