Chrysler nabs another exec, this time from GM
Chrysler proved once again that it will spare no expense to draw leading figures in the industry to man the helm of the it's turnaround. Today, Chrysler LLC announced that it's hired a 32-year veteran of General Motors and executive veep of GM's Chinese joint venture with SAIC Motor Corp., Phil Murtaugh, as the man to lead Chrysler's Asian operations. Murtaugh will take control on October 1 and stands to bring a wealth of knowledge from his 15-months of stewardship at one of China's leading automakers.Chrysler's new owners, Cerebus Capital Management, are all too aware that expanding markets, like China, are the backbone of any automaker's future. The move to hire Murtaugh is yet another decisive action, following the recent announcement that Toyota's Jim Press would be joining senior management, showing that Chrysler has every intention of thriving in the following years.
[Source: Chrysler LLC]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
AnonyMust 3:38PM (9/07/2007)
Now all they have to do is get someone from Honda and BMW and they pretty much have it all sewn up.
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J. D. Billiford 4:07PM (9/07/2007)
>>> Who knows at this point. Such a thing just might be in the works!
felipe 3:39PM (9/07/2007)
what a big bag of duh......look how happy he his... must have been an assload of cash they offered him to cross over.
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Johnny Rotten 3:55PM (9/07/2007)
That guy looks stoned too. What is up with all of these dope smking auto execs. Maybe that is why neither Toyota nor GM have put out any desirable cars in years (save for the Corvette).
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paul34 4:45PM (9/07/2007)
Might also explain the Aztec...
Viv 4:02PM (9/07/2007)
Don't any of these guys have non-compete clauses? I thought it would be standard practice for high level executives in big boy business?
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Icon149 4:42PM (9/07/2007)
Maybe they don't consider Chystler much competition...
actually even if they do, it isn't a law, Can't go to jail for taking a better job. they may just give up some finanical perks, severance, stock options who knows what but I am sure chystler will more than make up for.
whofan 4:55PM (9/07/2007)
When Iacocca started at Chrysler he drafted a lot of people from Ford to cross over. I don`t think there`s much of a noncompete claus in the auto industry.
I been quite pleased with the Chrysler products Ive owned. Chryslers last few redesigns haven`t been too good. Dakota and sebring come to mind, but over all I say Chrysler still has a nicer line of vehicles than most companys. They can`t afford anymore mistakes like the 2.7l engine fiasco. Only Toyota can afford that.
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howard 4:58PM (9/07/2007)
Hey ICON 149, it's C-H-R-Y-S-L-E-R NOT THAT GARBAGE YOU SPELLED IT WITH, I CAN'T EVEN SOUND IT OUT AND I KNOW PHONICS!
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jw 5:25PM (9/07/2007)
well the writing is on the wall for current chrysler execs...start packing baby!!!!!
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Stratojet 5:57PM (9/07/2007)
Murphy's law:
"There is nothing more dangerous than a bunch of Generals around a map."
The real talent are not the executives, especially within GM. The real talent are underneath and this where they must recruit: engineers, designs, and so on. GM hired Bob Lutz; so what?
A perfect example of this is the Gibson corporation. They used to make crappy guitars in the 70 and 80's . Whenthey finally went back to their roots, which is hire and keep fine craftmen and good employees, they produced superb quality instruments like they used to do in the 60's.
They are very succesful now. Same story with Fender Musical Instruments. And on top of this, the most desirable guitars are produced in the USA.
Executives are not the answer. Competent and knowlegeable people will hire competent employees. Competent employees will produce world quality vehiicles. Very simple. Superstar "executives" ? We will see...
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sledge 3:10PM (9/08/2007)
@Stratojet
Hiring top executives from competitors is not just about that one person. When someone like Jim Press or Phil Murtaugh is hired into Chrysler, they will more likely than not hire the best people that used to work for them at their previous employers (their lieutenants if you will). However, as I am sure you will agree, Chrysler would not exactly be given much news coverage if they said, "We hired the top 10 engineering and marketing people from mid-level management at GM and Toyota."