Jim Press heads for Chrysler
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Jim Press heads for Chrysler
Autoblog.com
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.
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.
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Apparently, he is what some might consider a car guy: USA Today
In case you don't know, Pittsburg is where Pitt State is and is equal to UTI, but better some might say. I know a lot of people who are into cars around here usually end up at Pitt.
Press' humility hews closely to his small-town upbringing. He was born in Pasadena, Calif., but his family moved to Prairie Village, Kan., when Press was 7. A year later, he built his first go-cart. As a teen, he discovered the world of motoring, encouraged by an uncle who sold cars and an older brother who fixed them. In 1959, Press got his first car, a beat-up 1928 Ford roadster. He was hooked.
"I was in love with cars every second I can remember," says Press, who once was a mechanic.
After graduating from the state college in Pittsburg, Kan., Press landed a job as a management trainee for Ford Motor. When his boss, Max Jamiesson, moved to Toyota in 1970, Press was one of the two subordinates he brought along.
"I was in love with cars every second I can remember," says Press, who once was a mechanic.
After graduating from the state college in Pittsburg, Kan., Press landed a job as a management trainee for Ford Motor. When his boss, Max Jamiesson, moved to Toyota in 1970, Press was one of the two subordinates he brought along.
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I remember meeting him once when i was around 8 or so, when i was just getting into chevys. His son who ultimately went to my highscool, but a few years older than me, was on the same swim team as my brother. and one day he gave us a ride back. I still remember him talking about cars and how he started with the american cars and then moved to toyota.
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Don't know much about him.
From what I've read, it seems like he'd be the idea person for any expansion plans Chrysler has.
The way it looks, Press will be working to build sales here and abroad. LaSorda seems to be working on getting products out & quality up.
It doesn't automatically mean Lasorda's out. Lasorda seemed a bit over his head by not keeping Eberhardt in check, while missing the fact that vehicles were stacking up till it was too late. Even Zetsche, without naming him, chided him publically for not acting till after things got bad.
I think Lasorda is a great guy from what I know about him. There are certain areas where he's very much an expert in (his background is in manufacturing.... for General Motors!). But I get a feeling he wasn't quite up to both running Chrysler and keeping track of what's happening everywhere within the company to blast problems before they happen.
From what I've read, it seems like he'd be the idea person for any expansion plans Chrysler has.
The way it looks, Press will be working to build sales here and abroad. LaSorda seems to be working on getting products out & quality up.
It doesn't automatically mean Lasorda's out. Lasorda seemed a bit over his head by not keeping Eberhardt in check, while missing the fact that vehicles were stacking up till it was too late. Even Zetsche, without naming him, chided him publically for not acting till after things got bad.
I think Lasorda is a great guy from what I know about him. There are certain areas where he's very much an expert in (his background is in manufacturing.... for General Motors!). But I get a feeling he wasn't quite up to both running Chrysler and keeping track of what's happening everywhere within the company to blast problems before they happen.
Last edited by guionM; Sep 6, 2007 at 04:32 PM.
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I thought the same thing... maybe this is just what they need to get back on track... Kind of a new "Bob Lutz" if you will...
Never thought I'd say this, me being a GM guy and all but "Good for them" I hope this continues to bring them along and help out things closer to home.
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Chrysler seems very much the dark horse of the auto industry right now. They've got great new managers, a solid core of products (better than Ford, I think), the most stable market share of any of the Big Three, and most importantly, have found themselves in Cerberus one hell of a rich uncle.
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