Trevor Creed retires from Chrysler, Ralph Gilles ascends
Trevor Creed has decided that being the capo di designi capo for such programs as the Chrysler 300, PT Cruiser, Dodge Challenger, Viper, and Ram, among others, is a satisfactory way to cap a career in design. Creed has spent the past 23 years at Chrysler, and his departure as Vice President of Design on August 31st opens up the slot for Ralph Gillies to step up. Gillies will start his new role as Design Veep September 1st, and he'll answer to Frank Klegon, Executive VP of Product Development.
Hey Frank, get rid of focus grouping, give Ralph a bit more leash to manage a staff that can design a car that actually looks good. As Design Vice President, Gillies will now oversee the Product Design Office, so one imagines that, given the opportunity, there may be a glimmer of hope for righting the horrid wrongs of the Sebring, as long as some of that 2009 Ram mojo is still around.
Once Gillies and team work sheetmetal magic, Andreas Schnell is the newly appointed Vice President of Electrical/Electronics Engineering Core, the people that come up with the electronics that not only run the vehicle, but entertain and delight, as well. Schnell will also be responsible for "voice of the customer" efforts, and the voice of the customer should be heard loud and clear saying "please build better cars."
[Source: Chrysler]
| Chrysler LLC Announces Executive Retirement, Appointments |
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| Auburn Hills, Mich., Aug 18, 2008 -
Chrysler LLC today announced that Trevor M. Creed, Senior Vice President - Design has stated his intention to retire August 31, 2008. The company also announced two executive appointments. "Trevor has led a distinguished automotive design career," said Chrysler LLC Chairman and CEO Robert L. Nardelli. "He played a key leadership role in the design of award-winning vehicles such as the new Dodge Challenger, Chrysler 300C, Chrysler PT Cruiser, Dodge Viper, Dodge Ram and the Plymouth Prowler. We thank him for his contribution to the Company and wish him well in his retirement." Creed joined the Company in 1985 as Director - Interior Design from Ford Motor Corp. Continuing the Company's efforts to improve efficiency and enhance operations, the Chrysler Design Office will now report to Frank O. Klegon, Executive Vice President - Product Development. Effective Sept. 1, 2008, Ralph V. Gilles will become Vice President - Design. In this capacity, Gilles will be responsible for all activities of the Product Design Office, succeeding Creed. Gilles joined Chrysler in 1992. He most recently served as Vice President - Jeep® / Truck and Advance Interior Design. Effective Immediately, Andreas A. Schell is appointed Vice President - Electrical / Electronics Engineering Core. In this capacity, Schell will be responsible for all electrical and electronics engineering design, development, quality and "voice of the customer" activities. He succeeds William H. (Bill) Mattingly, who left the Company last month. Schell joined Daimler-Benz in 1996 as a Research Engineer. He most recently served as Chrysler LLC Director - Recovery and Transformation Plan (RTP) and Strategy. |
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Kyledl 8:12AM (8/19/2008)
I was surprised reading the list of cars he had a hand in designing. All off them, minus the PT Cruiser, are good designs.
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azzo45 9:19AM (8/19/2008)
Trevor Creed was the Sr VP of Design.... he didn't Design any of the cars he "credited" with. Notice how his resume overlaps Mr Gilles'?
PT Cruiser was championed by Bob Lutz & the designer credited by Chrysler was Bryan Nesbitt (who than jumped ship to GM to stay teamed up with Lutz)
300: In Ralph's bio he is credited with leading the actual Design team Trevor just put thumbs up or thumbs down to aspects of the LX production concepts Ralph also credited numerous designers he worked with on the 300 / Charger / & Magnum Design project... a classier (& more real world way) to show his leadership (IMO)
Challenger: Its the 1970's design stretched over the LX platform... shouldn't the 70s designers get credited with "designing" the Challenger???
Trevor Creed did keep his hands & design sensibilities on the wonderful Chrysler Imperial concept car... you know the hideous, nasty brown metallic turd that debuted at the NAIAS a few years back...
...Many Chrysler designers have been waiting for Trevor to exit for YEARS! Ralph Gilles will bring Chrysler styling back to its former levels.
Kyledl 10:11AM (8/19/2008)
Ok he put his thumb up or down, isnt that the job of a VP, letting the designers play their role and assisting them on a managerial level? I could understand if he was a designer and rode the coattails of his team, but thats not the case here.
Vintage 10:36AM (8/19/2008)
Thanks Azzo, I was going to say the same thing. I had the pleasure of talking to Ralph a year or so ago, I interviewed him over the phone. He's a very cool guy, and he will chat with anyone for a while. I'm not giving out his number though, you have to work for it. :)
mike 8:25AM (8/19/2008)
Well 300C was a cool car, but once gas went up people saw it for what it was, a big car, with little room, cheap interior and poor gas mileage.
Yes, looks are important, very very important, ...... probably 70+ % of purchases are made on looks, HOWEVER other issues matter as well, this guy will fail if MPGs will stay where they are, he will fail if interior will be as cheap as it is, he will fail if Chrysler will not retire the black plastic door handles.
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Bondtastic 9:29AM (8/19/2008)
Because, of course, the head designer has the final say on the engineering being used that affects MPG, the final stamp of approval on interior materials that get approved for the car to reach it's target cost / profit ratio, and he/she would obviously design a small car for the large car market!
None of these things, except size, which is a silly statement, were handled by Trevor Creed in the end.
All of those that hate the PT cruiser, remember (when it initially came out) it was a real change up in the small car market and was very innovative. The fact that it never really got an update / change of style was probably less due to the design department (if they could they would do yearly designs with exotic materials), and more due to Chrysler's (mis) management.
300Kid 10:05AM (8/19/2008)
For Mike:
I beg to differ with your comment here. A Chrysler 300 is but 2" longer than the current Honda Accord (and it was only 5" longer than the previous generation). It just has a long wheelbase which contributes to the excellent leg room front & rear. The v-6 gets decent, not class leading, but decent fuel economy (I easily get 400+ miles on 17 gal. of gas, I live in an urban area). The hemi will get you 24-25 mpg on the highway, which is great for an engine w/that size and power.
Personally I don't spend my time behind the wheel touching my dashboard, which honestly doesn't feel that much cheaper than say the one in a pricier Acura TL. Chrysler has already committed to bettering their interiors, quality and gas mileage - they must to stay in business. Give em a chance.
MJK 8:26AM (8/19/2008)
Finally....some encouraging news out of Chrysler.
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mike 8:28AM (8/19/2008)
PT is good too, it is stale now but it was good few years ago.
I never had a chance to drive but i heard from a few friends that the interior and overall interior design is atrocious.
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mroverlord 8:40AM (8/19/2008)
A big car with little room? Are we talking the same vehicle??
The V6 models still get good mileage for their size, and even the car mags made note that the 300 interior has really improved over the years (yes, I know the base model is still cheap...but that's why it's a base model).
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mike 8:42AM (8/19/2008)
Yeah, i sat inside it. Two people can sit in the back. 3rd person will be very uncomfortable in the back, yet 3 people can sit in Honda Civic.
71cuda 9:58AM (8/19/2008)
Mike, that qualifies as the alternate reality comment of the day. Unless 2 of the people in the Civic are sitting in the front seats.
300Kid 10:08AM (8/19/2008)
3 average size people definitely cannot sit comfortably in the back of the civic trust me. The only advantage is that the civic is wrong wheel drive allowing the floor to be almost completely flat - as opposed to the hump in the Chrysler.
JMC 3 8:42AM (8/19/2008)
WOW.He's a young retiree.(that'll give him an advantage on the shuffleboard court-joke)
Chrysler needs to come out with some more hit designs like the 300.
Chrysler has bounced back on good design before.
Trevor Creed leaves a great legacy.
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azzo45 9:37AM (8/19/2008)
No... Tom Gale & Bob Lutz left Chrysler with a "good legacy"! Trevor Creed leaves disgraced after giving the public products like this:
Chrysler Aspen/ Dodge Durango
Chrysler Sebring Dodge Avenger
Jeep Compass/ Dodge Caliber / Jeep Patriot "cute utes" that are not cute
Sales BOMBS:
Chrysler Crossfire
Chrysler Pacifica
Dodge Dakota
Compare the mid 90s cab forward concepts & production Chrysler Corp. product to the Creed era & tell me with a straight face he leaves a "good legacy"!
Chrysler design, once a huge STRENGTH, became a major WEAKNESS under Creed's leadership.
mike 1:13PM (8/19/2008)
@300 KID
You got it, because 300 is RWD, the hump makes it impossible for 3rd person to sit, 2 people can seat very comfortbly but 3rd can not.
Yes you are right, Civic is Front wheel, so there's no hump, but that is my point, it allows a third person to sit.
71cuda 2:23PM (8/19/2008)
Mike, the hump does not make it impossible to sit in the middle, you just have to keep your feet spread apart a foot, one on either side. That's more comfortable than cramming yourself into the foot-wide middle seat in the Civic. I hope you don't need more than a foot of legroom with the center console directly in front of you. Otherwise, you may have to position your feet the same way you would in the 300.
The Talking Hamburger 9:52PM (8/19/2008)
Trevor Creed isn't pictured, that's Ralph Gilles.
Alex 8:47AM (8/19/2008)
Small cars, much better interiors, less brand badging, fuel effecient engines.
I know they are working on them but they could hurry up.
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MajorGeek 9:06AM (8/19/2008)
Wow, what a list of awesome design. Dont forget, while you may not like designs such as the PT Cruiser, were talking about roughly some of the best designs from Chrysler in the past 10 years ranging from 21k to 80k. Heres hoping the next team can figure out what went wrong with the current crop of fugly at Chrysler. Whats up with the breadbox design on the minivan. I have to swallow back puke when I see one.
"Chrysler 300, PT Cruiser, Dodge Challenger, Viper, and Ram, among others"
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