Stellantis has announced the return of Timothy Kuniskis as the Chief Executive Officer of Ram, effective immediately. This move is part of a broader leadership restructuring within its North American operations, as confirmed by company spokesperson Shawn Morgan. Kuniskis, who had previously retired in May, is back to lead the Ram brand, signaling a significant shift in Stellantis’s strategy in a challenging market.
This leadership change also involves Christine Feuell, who was initially appointed to oversee both Chrysler and Ram brands following Kuniskis’s retirement. Feuell will now focus on leading Chrysler and Alfa Romeo. Larry Dominique, the former head of Alfa Romeo in North America, is departing from the company.
In a company statement, Stellantis emphasized that these changes are designed to “drive the best outcomes for the region, unlock significant potential and win in the market.” The statement further highlighted the strategic importance of having a dedicated CEO solely focused on the Ram brand. This renewed focus on Ram comes at a critical time for Stellantis as it navigates evolving market dynamics.
Kuniskis’s return follows the recent resignation of Stellantis global CEO Carlos Tavares on December 1st. Tavares’s departure occurred after Stellantis reported two consecutive quarters of declining profits and a shrinking market share in North America, a stark contrast to the robust sales figures of 2023. These financial pressures appear to be a key driver behind the current leadership adjustments.
Timothy Kuniskis brings a wealth of experience back to Stellantis. During his extensive career spanning over three decades with the company, he has held numerous executive positions. Prior to his initial retirement, Kuniskis’s roles included global head of Alfa Romeo starting in February 2018, and head of passenger cars for North America from June 2019. His leadership also extended to overseeing the Fiat, Jeep, and Maserati brands in North America before he was appointed CEO of Dodge in January 2021. This diverse background across multiple brands positions him uniquely to understand and address the current challenges at Ram.
While Stellantis reported a strong net profit of 18.6 billion euros ($19.6 billion) in 2023, with a 7% increase in consolidated vehicle shipments, this momentum has not continued into 2024. The first half of 2024 saw a significant 48% year-over-year decrease in net profit. This downturn prompted Stellantis to revise its full-year outlook and implement corrective measures, including the recent series of leadership changes.
Further leadership adjustments at Stellantis include the appointment of Antonio Filosa as Jeep’s COO in October, in addition to his CEO responsibilities for the brand. He succeeded Carlos Zarlenga in this role. Stellantis also appointed Doug Ostermann as CFO, replacing Natalie Knight, who had been in the position for just over a year.
Kuniskis’s return to lead Ram comes after a challenging third quarter for Stellantis in North America. Vehicle shipments in the region decreased by 36% year-over-year in Q3, and net revenues fell by 42%. Despite these overall declines, the Ram brand demonstrated relative strength during the same period. Notably, commercial sales of heavy-duty Ram trucks in the U.S., including the 2500 and 3500 models, saw a substantial 26% increase year-over-year in Q3. Furthermore, Ram’s light-duty retail sales increased by 11% compared to Q2. This resilience within the Ram brand likely played a role in Stellantis’s decision to bring back Timothy Kuniskis to capitalize on this relative success and navigate the broader market challenges.
Adding to the leadership changes, Jeff Kommor has been appointed as the head of North American sales. Prior to this, Kommor was appointed SVP of commercial sales in February, where he was responsible for expanding Stellantis’s fleet, government, and B2B vehicle sales. His previous experience also includes serving as the head of U.S. sales for Stellantis. These comprehensive leadership changes indicate a determined effort by Stellantis to revitalize its North American operations and regain market momentum under new direction, with Timothy Kuniskis playing a central role in steering the Ram brand forward.
