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Wolfgang Bernhard to become chairman of Chrysler Group
According to a German magazine referenced by Automotive News, Wolfgang Bernhard is expected to be announced as the Chrysler Group's chairman-in-waiting, pending DaimlerChrysler's sale of the automaker to Cerberus Capital Management. Currently Bernhard is an acting advisor, a consultant if you will, for Cerberus, and spends his days at Chrysler's Auburn Hills headquarters, presumably gathering info for Cerberus on what aspects of the business need the German exec's magic touch the most. When the sale happens and Bernhard officially moves in, the speculation is that current CEO Tom LaSorda will remain in his position and likely report to Bernhard.
Bernhard was formerly VW's brand chief, and before that he worked for Chrysler immediately following the "merger of equals" that resulted in DaimlerChrysler. Other former Chrysler execs are also advising Cerberus at the moment according to Automotive News, including the company's well respected former design chief Tom Gale. Hopefully the news of Bernhard's official return, when it comes, will portend the return of other key Chrysler execs that can aid the company's turnaround efforts.
[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Avinash machado 12:42PM (7/26/2007)
Good to see American executives back at Chrysler. The German ones seemed to have been quite pathetic.
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Lithous 1:07PM (7/26/2007)
You mean a guy called "Wolfgang" is American?
Jared 1:15PM (7/26/2007)
Wolfgang is German. He was assigned to Chrysler by then DC CEO Jurgen Schremp.
Harry Ariola 12:52PM (7/26/2007)
Wow, for a second there, I thought Chris Isaak was the new head of Chrysler.
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Tool 12:52PM (7/26/2007)
Surprise!
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AlexP 12:53PM (7/26/2007)
Apart from pulling an economical stunt (this can't possibly qualify as something as big and awesome as GM's turnaround) over at Volkswagen, is there any reason why I should be happy for either him or Chrysler?
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Don 12:54PM (7/26/2007)
Wait...I thought this would be seen as good for Chrysler?
CJ 12:54PM (7/26/2007)
Harry - Curse you! You took my joke!
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DJ 1:17PM (7/26/2007)
This is the best thing to happen to Chrysler since the buyout announcement. This is a real car nut that will be running the company, not a beancounter or egomaniac like Der Furher Jurgen Schrempp. After all, this is the guy that not only created the Tomahawk, but rode it out on stage. I'm guessing he'll be taking that as part of his comp plan too....
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bobin4 1:20PM (7/26/2007)
Hopefully they will put Tom Gale back in charge of design. If this happens Chrysler will start having cool cars and trucks again.
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Avinash machado 1:22PM (7/26/2007)
Oops. I made a mistake. Thanks Lithous and Jared. I had forgotten that he was German.
PS Was not Lutz also a prominent Chrysler executive?
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DJ 1:39PM (7/26/2007)
Yes, Lutz was at the top of the heap at Chrysler prior to "merger of one is more equal than the other equals". Don't expect him back though, he's got too good of a thing going at the General and he's probably going to retire in the next 5 years or so. He's 75 now.
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Aaron 1:39PM (7/26/2007)
IMO this is wonderful news. The sooner the munchausen sydrome from daimler can come to an end the better.
I can't wait untiil they have new powertrains mated to new transmissions in new models witha new company witha new outlook.
Instead of a white night on a horse, he is a car nut riding in on the tomahawk concept lol..
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TriShield 1:52PM (7/26/2007)
Good news for Chrysler. Bernhard was one of the people responsible for Chrysler's ascension which promptly crashed after he left.
Hopefully Bernhard can right the ship and Cerberus can make the necessary cuts to restore Chrysler.
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Arnie 1:58PM (7/26/2007)
Bernhard is a "Good German" - at least until all manufacturing has been moved to China and Chrysler becomes a big dealership instead of manufacturer.
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Adam 2:42PM (7/26/2007)
This is good news for Chrysler!
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Calebe 7:30AM (7/27/2007)
I hope he demands a restyle of the Sebring ASAP.
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CarKrazee 8:24AM (8/09/2007)
Is there anyone more overrated in the entire auto industry than Wolfie? As someone else pointed out, look at the models launched under his watch. Look at the supposed "turnaround" that was supposedly going on at Chrysler during his watch which never gained traction. He never did anything of distinction at VW after Chrysler.
The car industry seems to be longing for a celebrity CEO, someone who looks good and is a seat of the pants loose cannon like Lutz and Lido. While it would be entertaining to watch Wolfie cavort in the media, he has too much ego and neither the experience nor history of generating results to suggest he would have been the right guy to lead Chrysler at this time.
Xcountryflyer 3:02PM (7/26/2007)
At least he always looks well coiffed and dapper. When your cars suck at the moment--it always helps to look nice.
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psarhjinian 3:46PM (7/26/2007)
He's very tall, and he has executive-style hair. We're hoping it will go silver.
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