New Chrysler COO-designate Ridenour to quickly face important product decisions
MARY CONNELLY | Automotive News
Posted Date: 8/10/05
Last week, new details emerged about the Chrysler group's management changes that make it clear that COO-designate Eric Ridenour will wear the "car guy" label.
Ridenour, now the company's top product development executive, begins his new job Jan. 1. The move comes as Chrysler faces three major product decisions.
In a change to Chrysler's structure, Frank Klegon, Chrysler's new product development chief, will report to Ridenour. Currently, Ridenour reports to CEO Dieter Zetsche.
COO Tom LaSorda, known for his manufacturing acumen, will take over as Chrysler CEO. LaSorda replaces Zetsche. Zetsche moves to Germany replacing retiring DaimlerChrysler AG Chairman Juergen Schrempp.
In the next six to eight months, Chrysler will turn thumbs up or thumbs down on production versions of the Chrysler Firepower, Jeep Gladiator and Chrysler 300 convertible concept vehicles, Ridenour says.
The business case for each vehicle concept varies, Ridenour says. The two-passenger Firepower is a potential rival to the Chevrolet Corvette. The Gladiator would give Jeep a pickup. The 300 convertible is glitzy, but four-door convertibles are rare because of structural issues.
Overall, Ridenour said last week, don't look for dramatic changes in Chrysler's product strategy. But do expect him to keep the heat on a product roll that includes the Chrysler 300 sedan, the Hemi V-8 engine, a string of performance SRT vehicles and Stow 'n Go minivans.
Ridenour says he will "continue to keep pushing the boundaries" in product decisions. That strategy is pivotal to the Chrysler group's drive for increased profitability.
"We have meetings probably two times a month to talk about what's interesting and to ask, 'How much further should we have the teams look at this?'" Ridenour says.
"I feel really good about the strategy. There is nothing I see as urgent that has to change."
As product development chief, Ridenour sits on Chrysler's seven-member executive committee that develops the company's business and product strategy.
The Chrysler executive committee completed its detailed three-year strategic business plan and long-range five-to-10-year plan. It presented the plan to the DaimlerChrysler board of management in early July, Ridenour says.
The plan calls for increasing profitability at the Chrysler group. It also reiterates the company's goal to match the industry leader in vehicle quality and manufacturing productivity by 2007.
His job as COO will extend beyond product, Ridenour says.
[size=2]"My focus is going to be product and then quality and cost," he says. "I'm involved in all three today, but obviously, I will take on a bigger responsibility for each of those."[/size]
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