Jim Press Leaves Toyota for Chrysler
INDUSTRY NEWS
Jim Press Leaves Toyota for ChryslerAUBURN HILLS, MI (Sept. 6, 2007) - Chrysler LLC Chairman and CEO Robert Nardelli today announced the appointment of James Press as vice chairman and president. Press, formerly president and chief operating officer of Toyota Motors North America and a Director of the parent company, will now have overall responsibility for Chrysler's North American Sales, International Sales, Global Marketing, Product Strategy, and Service and Parts for Chrysler LLC. Tom LaSorda, Chrsler vice president will continue responsibilities for Manufacturing, Procurement and Supply, Employee Relations and Global Business Development and Alliances. "Tom LaSorda and I are thrilled that one of the most successful executives in the history of the auto industry has joined our leadership team at the New Chrysler," said Nardelli. "Our top team now consists of a world-class 'supply' leader in Tom and an equally world-class 'demand' leader in Jim." Press joins Chrysler after 37 years with Toyota, where he most recently served as the first non-Japanese President of Toyota Motor North America, responsible for sales, engineering and the company's 15 manufacturing plants with 41,000 employees in North America. He was also the first non-Japanese executive selected to the Board of Directors of Toyota Motor Corporation. During his tenure at Toyota, the company grew from an upstart new company selling 100,000 vehicles per year to the second largest auto company in the United States. "I am grateful for the support and opportunities I received during my three-plus decades at Toyota," said Press. "I relish this new opportunity with the Chrysler team to be a part of the resurgence of a true American icon here and around the world. Part of my new responsibilities will be strengthening and energizing the dealer body. This is something I was passionate about at Toyota and will be passionate about at Chrysler."(Source: Chrysler LLC)
Jim Press Leaves Toyota for ChryslerAUBURN HILLS, MI (Sept. 6, 2007) - Chrysler LLC Chairman and CEO Robert Nardelli today announced the appointment of James Press as vice chairman and president. Press, formerly president and chief operating officer of Toyota Motors North America and a Director of the parent company, will now have overall responsibility for Chrysler's North American Sales, International Sales, Global Marketing, Product Strategy, and Service and Parts for Chrysler LLC. Tom LaSorda, Chrsler vice president will continue responsibilities for Manufacturing, Procurement and Supply, Employee Relations and Global Business Development and Alliances. "Tom LaSorda and I are thrilled that one of the most successful executives in the history of the auto industry has joined our leadership team at the New Chrysler," said Nardelli. "Our top team now consists of a world-class 'supply' leader in Tom and an equally world-class 'demand' leader in Jim." Press joins Chrysler after 37 years with Toyota, where he most recently served as the first non-Japanese President of Toyota Motor North America, responsible for sales, engineering and the company's 15 manufacturing plants with 41,000 employees in North America. He was also the first non-Japanese executive selected to the Board of Directors of Toyota Motor Corporation. During his tenure at Toyota, the company grew from an upstart new company selling 100,000 vehicles per year to the second largest auto company in the United States. "I am grateful for the support and opportunities I received during my three-plus decades at Toyota," said Press. "I relish this new opportunity with the Chrysler team to be a part of the resurgence of a true American icon here and around the world. Part of my new responsibilities will be strengthening and energizing the dealer body. This is something I was passionate about at Toyota and will be passionate about at Chrysler."(Source: Chrysler LLC)