Chrysler Australia COO, Sales Director Departs

Less than four months after being named chief operating officer and director of sales at Fiat Chrysler Group Australia, Matthew Wiesner is out.

His departure is announced in two terse, unsigned 2-sentence statements under the Chrysler Group and Fiat Alfa Romeo labels.

“Fiat Chrysler Group has today announced that Matthew Wiesner has left the company effective immediately to pursue other interests,” the statements say. “President and CEO of Fiat Chrysler Group, Veronica Johns, will oversee the sales function until a suitable replacement is announced.”

When his appointment was made public effective May 1, the auto maker said Wiesner, formerly director of Skoda Australia, brought a wealth of experience from his previous roles within the automotive industry.

Wiesner joined the Fiat Chrysler subsidiary the same day Johns took over as CEO, with the company saying she had enjoyed a long and successful career with the Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge brands spanning 14 years.

Johns previously had been director of sales and became the first Australian woman to head an auto maker’s local operation.

Fiat Chrysler saw record deliveries of Fiat and Alfa Romeo vehicles as well as of the Jeep Grand Cherokee in July, pushing year-to-date volume up almost 40% from year-ago to 17,166 units and putting the group in 12th place for total sales in the country.