Tim Kuniskis, head of Fiat Chrysler’s passenger car division in North America, unveils the 2021 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat SUV during an online event on July 2, 2020.
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DETROIT – StellantisDodge and Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis is retiring after a nearly 32-year career with the automaker and its predecessors, the company announced Friday.
Kuniskis, who has led several of the automaker’s brands in North America, is best known for running Dodge for most of the past decade. He is considered the “father” of Dodge’s high-performance Hellcat models and the “unofficial spokesperson” for American muscle cars.
During his tenure, Dodge re-established itself as a quintessential American muscle car brand. The brand has done this with vehicles such as the 700-plus horsepower Challenger and Charger Hellcat models and the controversial Challenger Demon drag race cars.
Kuniskis will be replaced by Chrysler brand CEO Christine Feuell, who will lead Ram in addition to Chrysler, and Matt McAlear, who will be promoted from Dodge sales executive to brand CEO and member of the Stellantis leadership team. The appointments will take effect June 1, the company said.
2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170
To dodge
The changes come as Stellantis undergoes a restructuring, including layoffs and cost cuts. The company has struggled with its U.S. sales, which declined 1.2% last year in a market that grew 12.3%. The company was the only major automaker to report an annual decline, according to Motor Intelligence data.
“I want to take this opportunity to warmly thank Tim for his passion, commitment and contributions to Stellantis and for setting the vision for the future electrified Ram and Dodge brands. I wish him well in his retirement,” said Carlos Tavares, CEO of Stellantis, in a press release. release. “I am confident that Chris will continue Tim’s work at the helm of the iconic Ram brand. Matt will bring a fresh perspective, while continuing to build on the heritage of our iconic Dodge brand and leading the brand’s transition to a sustainable future. “
Although the company hasn’t invested in entirely new products for Dodge, Kuniskis, a salesman and marketer, has managed to increase awareness and sales of the brand’s Charger, Challenger and Durango vehicles over the years. Dodge often generated interest by increasing the performance of the V8 engine or announcing new “hot” models.
Kuniskis has been a member of the Stellantis management team since the company was formed through the merger of Fiat Chrysler and French automaker PSA Groupe in January 2021. He also served on the board of directors of Fiat Chrysler, serving of the late CEO Sergio Marchionne.
Kuniskis’ departure is the latest in a series of changes at the company since the automaker’s founding. Recent changes include a shakeup of Jeep’s top leadership; North America Chief Mark Stewart Leaves to Become CEO of Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co..; and a shakeup late last year of the company’s international operations, notably in the South America and Asia-Pacific regions, including China.
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