Chrysler Shuffles Management After Diaz Departure

Chrysler appoints Dodge brand CEO Reid Bigland to replace Fred Diaz as the head of the auto maker’s Ram pickup division.

Diaz’s sudden and widely unexpected departure to Nissan was announced last week. He will fill the newly created role of divisional vice president-Nissan Sales & Marketing for Nissan U.S.

Bigland retains his title as head of U.S. sales for Chrysler. His successor as chief of Dodge Brand is Tim Kuniskis, who vacates his current role as head of the Fiat brand in North America.

Jason Stoicevich succeeds Kuniskis as head of the Fiat brand. Stoicevich most recently served as director of the auto maker’s California business center and retains that title.

Bruno Cattori assumes Diaz’s other role as president of Chrysler de Mexico. A former CEO of Mercedes-Benz of Mexico, Cattori most recently served as director-retail sales and fleet for Chrysler operations in Mexico and retains that role.

“These appointments are part of the Chrysler Group’s strategy to continuously reinforce its leadership ranks as we continue on our path to achieve our business targets,” Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne writes in a news release.