Chrysler Group LLC Announces Changes to Its Agency Roster
- Appoints new agency to handle media planning and buying
- Expands existing agency relationship to include CRM activities
AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Dec. 9, 2009
Chrysler Group LLC announced today that UM will be the company's new agency of record for media planning and buying for the Chrysler, Jeep®, Dodge and Ram brands in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. The appointment is effective immediately.
The announcement comes as the contract with the company's current media buying agency, PHD, ends in January 2010. The two agencies will work over the next two months to ensure a smooth transition.
With the new agency, media buying and planning will be primarily run out of Detroit with the support of offices in New York and San Francisco. The scope of work covers traditional and digital media. In addition to media buying and planning, UM will also be tasked with supporting Chrysler's retail marketing initiatives.
"As a new company with a brand-driven focus, we are looking for agencies that can deliver unique ideas and solutions to help us better communicate with consumers," said Olivier Francois, President and CEO, Chrysler Brand and Head of Marketing, Chrysler Group LLC. "These changes will allow Chrysler greater efficiencies and flexibility in the use of its media across all four brands and at the retail level."
In addition, Chrysler also announced that Meredith Integrated Marketing will manage CRM initiatives for both the U.S. and Canada. This announcement builds on an already existing relationship Chrysler has with Meredith as a custom publisher. The team supporting Chrysler will be primarily based in Detroit.
About Chrysler Group LLC
Chrysler Group LLC, formed in 2009 from a global strategic alliance with Fiat Group, produces Chrysler, Jeep®, Ram, Dodge, Mopar® and Global Electric Motorcars (GEM) brand vehicles and products. With the resources, technology and worldwide distribution network required to compete on a global scale, the alliance builds on Chrysler's culture of innovation - first established by Walter P. Chrysler in 1925 - and Fiat's complementary technology - from a company whose heritage dates back to 1899.
Headquartered in Auburn Hills, Mich., Chrysler Group LLC's product lineup features some of the world's most recognizable vehicles, including the Chrysler 300, Jeep Wrangler and Ram. Fiat will contribute world-class technology, platforms and powertrains for small- and medium-sized cars, allowing Chrysler Group to offer an expanded product line including environmentally friendly vehicles.
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Supreme Court dismisses Indiana challenge
December 14th, 2009
Indiana’s treasurer was dealt a final defeat by the United States Supreme Court, which dismissed three state pension funds’ challenge to the sale of 20% of Chrysler (escalating to 35% of Chrysler) to Fiat.
Republican State Treasurer Mourdock had the Indiana State Police Pension Trust, the Indiana State Teachers Retirement Fund and the Major Movers Construction Fund, which held Chrysler senior secured debt, challenge the sale repeatedly. After paying 43 cents on the dollar for risky loans, the funds issued numerous legal challenges at receiving 29 cents on the dollar, though the alternative through a Chapter 7 bankruptcy would likely have been far less. No other buyers expressed a serious interest in Chrysler.
The group was represented by the law firm of White & Case, and has reportedly paid over $2 million for its legal challenges. (See this legal analysis of the challenge.)
Indiana’s pension funds held a total of $42.5 million of the debt, and appear to have lost around $30 million on the deal.
Old Chrysler plan earmarks nothing for TARP repay
December 15, 2009
2:40pm EST
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The U.S. Treasury will not recover any portion of the $3.7 billion still outstanding in loans it made to automaker Chrysler under the Troubled Asset Relief Program, according to the terms of a plan filed with bankruptcy court on Tuesday.
The U.S. government has filed proofs of claim for unpaid principal, interest, fees and expenses, but "will receive no recovery on account of such claim," according to court documents filed on behalf of Old Carco LLC, the units of Chrysler that remain under bankruptcy protection while they are liquidated.
The proposal was laid out in a disclosure statement filed with the New York bankruptcy court in Manhattan.
A disclosure statement is a comprehensive document sent to creditors before they vote on a plan of reorganization. The Old Carco plan also proposed repaying Class 1 priority claims in full.
The case is In re Old Carco LLC, US Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of New York, No. 09-50002.
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Company is first carmaker to prohibit texting while driving
Posted on Tuesday, December 15th, 2009 at 4:10 PM EST.(Employee News)
Chrysler Group LLC today became the first automaker to establish a corporate policy surrounding company-owned vehicles and communication devices.
The company now prohibits texting while driving in order to promote safer driving behaviors and serve as an industry example. The new policy applies to texting while driving company-owned vehicles and texting with company-provided communication devices while driving personal vehicles.
“The Chrysler Group values the safety and well-being of employees, customers and communities,” Nancy Rae, Executive Vice President – Human Resources, said. “As an automaker, we expect higher driving standards from our work force and business partners as we design products and technology that bring greater levels of safety to our customers and their families.”
The company’s new “texting while driving” policy will take effect immediately.
“A driver’s primary responsibility is to be in control of their vehicle; texting while driving clearly interferes with that responsibility,” Steve Bartoli, Head of Engineering Planning and Regulatory Affairs. “Chrysler Group LLC supports initiatives to ban this activity. Additionally, we stand with the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers supporting a ban on hand-held cell phone operation while driving.”
The company earned a leadership role as the first North American automaker to offer the hands-free, voice-activated uconnect® system with Bluetooth technology. The feature, available on most Chrysler, Jeep®, Dodge and Ram vehicles, provides voice-controlled wireless communication between the occupants’ compatible mobile phones and the vehicle’s onboard receiver.
Uconnect can manage onboard phone-book entries, select radio stations, access the navigation system and retrieve voice mail. The hands-free option promotes safety, freedom, value and flexibility.
The Chrysler Group continues to pioneer the integration of personal electronics in the automobile. Recently, the Chrysler Group announced it will offer text-to-voice/message reader technology in select 2011 model year Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge and Ram vehicles.
__________________
Rick
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Chrysler manufacturing chief Frank Ewasyshyn, who started with Chrysler in 1976 as a maintenance foreman in Ontario and became executive vice president in charge of manufacturing at Chrysler Group in 2004, is retiring at the end of the year, and will be replaced by Scott Gaberding.
Ewasyshyn took medical leave earlier this year, and while he has made a full recovery, Scott Gaberding was interim head of manufacturing during his absence. Gaberding has been with Chrysler since 1993, the year the Neon was originally launched and five years before the Daimler takeover; he rose through manufacturing and purchasing, and was named head of purchasing in 2008.
Dan Knott, who was put in charge of purchasing while Gaberding ran manufacturing, will keep that role on a permanent basis. He started with Chrysler in 1988 as an engineer, and was head of engineering for small (A and B) cars before taking over purchasing in September.
Chrysler Group Appoints Assistant Treasurer & Chief Investment Officer
Chrysler Group Appoints Assistant Treasurer & Chief Investment Officer
Auburn Hills, Mich. , Dec 23, 2009 - Chrysler Group LLC today announced that Robert L. Watson was named Assistant Treasurer Chief Investment Officer. In this position, Watson is responsible for the management and investment strategy of the Chrysler Group Pension funds for both the U.S. and Canada. He reports to Vice President and Treasurer, Walter P. Bodden Jr.
Watson joined Chrysler in 1985. Since then, he has held a series of increasingly responsible positions within the Finance organization. Most recently, he served as Senior Manager – Alternative Investments within the Treasury organization.
Watson has a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from the University of Denver and a Master of Business degree in finance from Walsh College.
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Rick
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Chrysler Wins Approval to Pay Marchionne for Work as a Director
December 23, 2009
The U.S. Treasury Department approved $600,000 in stock salary for 2009 for Chrysler Group LLC Chief Executive Officer Sergio Marchionne for his work on the automaker’s board.
The information, disclosed in a letter signed by Kenneth Feinberg, the department’s special master for executive compensation, and e-mailed to reporters, said Marchionne’s salary for his CEO role at Chrysler is paid by Fiat SpA, which owns 20 percent of the Auburn Hills, Michigan-based automaker. He serves as chief executive of both companies.
Chrysler had proposed giving Marchionne $600,000 in restricted stock, one third of which could be sold after each year of service. Feinberg ruled that the stock couldn’t be sold until after three years and all obligations to the Troubled Assets Relief Program have been fulfilled.
Fiat, based in Turin, Italy, can increase its stake in Chrysler to 35 percent by achieving certain performance milestones, such as building a fuel-efficient engine in the U.S. Until then the U.S. has about 9.9 percent, Canada owns 2.5 percent and a United Auto Workers trust for retirees’ medical care holds 67.7 percent, according to court documents.
The Treasury had spent $14.3 billion for Chrysler’s restructuring.
Chrysler LLC sued the Oregon Attorney General and officials in Maine, North Carolina and Illinois, saying recent changes to those states' dealerlaws violate the bankruptcy code and the U.S. Constitution.
Chrysler says the new laws interfere with the car company's rejection of 789 dealers as part of its sale to Italy's Fiat SpA.
The lawsuit was filed in Manhattan bankruptcy court by reorganized Chrysler as well as its bankrupt estate.
It seeks a court order declaring the laws unconstitutional and in conflict with a bankruptcy judges orders.
"The laws unduly burden New Chrysler with the obligation to provide the rejected dealers with rights that this court determined that the rejected dealers do not have," lawyers for Chrysler wrote.
The four states would have power under the new laws to block new Chrysler from granting a franchise to a new dealer in that state or relocate a dealer into a rejected dealers market, lawyers for Chrysler wrote.
U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Arthur Gonzalez approved Chrysler's plan to reject 789 dealer agreements before most of the Auburn Hills-based company's assets were sold in June to a group led by Fiat, creating the world's sixth-largest automaker.
The suit names eight defendants, including Oregon Attorney General John Kroger, the secretaries of state in Maine and Illinois, and transportation officials in all four states.
Chrysler has also faced at least four lawsuits in state courts related to the rejections, from Boucher Imports Inc. in Wisconsin, Crain CDJ in Arkansas, Spitzer Autoworld Sheffield LLC in Ohio and Sun Country Chrysler Inc. in Utah.
__________________
Rick
Nitro Year: 2007 (1 of 113,000 sold)
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Chrysler Group LLC Announces Advertising Agencies of Record for the Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep® and Ram Truck brands
* Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep® and Ram Truck brands to have individual agencies to re-establish identity and enhance reputation in the automotive marketplace
Auburn Hills, Mich. , Jan 6, 2010 -
Chrysler Group LLC announced today that it has named individual advertising agencies to manage the Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep® and Ram Truck brands. The announcement comes as the contract with BBDO Detroit, the company's current agency, ends this January.
“To establish a distinct identity and build upon the current brand equity, it is important that the Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram Truck brands retain individual agencies that fit with the brand direction. This includes helping to further identify each of the brand’s specific values and culture. Individual agencies also will enable us to deliver unique ideas and broaden our reach to existing and potential customers,” said Olivier Francois, President and CEO, Chrysler Brand and Head of Marketing, Chrysler Group LLC. “We have completed a thorough search and have selected these specific agencies to communicate the true essence of our vehicle portfolio.”
The following agencies will lead the advertising development for each of the brands:
* The Chrysler brand has assigned, Fallon, a Publicis Groupe agency, based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, as its creative agency of record
* The Dodge brand has assigned Wieden + Kennedy, a Portland, Oregon-based agency, as its creative agency of record
* The Jeep brand has assigned GlobalHue, a Southfield, Michigan-based independent agency, as its creative agency of record
* The Ram Truck brand has assigned The Richards Group, a Dallas, Texas-based independent agency, as its creative agency of record
Last month, Chrysler Group also announced that UM will be the company’s new agency of record for media planning and buying, as well as retail advertising trafficking for the Ram Truck, Dodge, Chrysler and Jeep brands in the U.S., Canada and Mexico and Meredith Integrated Marketing will manage CRM initiatives for both the U.S. and Canada.
About Chrysler Group LLC
Chrysler Group LLC, formed in 2009 from a global strategic alliance with Fiat Group, produces Chrysler, Jeep, Ram Truck, Dodge, Mopar® and Global Electric Motorcars (GEM) brand vehicles and products. With the resources, technology and worldwide distribution network required to compete on a global scale, the alliance builds on Chrysler’s culture of innovation – first established by Walter P. Chrysler in 1925 – and Fiat’s complementary technology – from a company whose heritage dates back to 1899.
__________________
Rick
Nitro Year: 2007 (1 of 113,000 sold)
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Chrysler Group Communications Names New Head Internal Branding
Auburn Hills, Mich. , Jan 7, 2010 -
Chrysler Group today announced that Beth Ann Bayus is appointed head of Internal Branding reporting to Gualberto Ranieri, Senior Vice President – Communications. In this position Bayus will lead the communications strategy for all internal stakeholders and retirees, working across the organization to continue building internal communications around our brands and key business issues. In addition, she will be responsible for leading communications for World Class Manufacturing communications.
Bayus joined Chrysler in 1986. Since then, she has held positions in Internal and Product Communications.
Bayus holds a bachelor's degree in Public Relations from Bowling Green State University and a master's degree in Communications from Wayne State University.
She succeeds Lori McTavish who has decided to pursue new interests.
"We want to thank Lori for her tireless efforts during the many years with our company, including one of the most difficult periods in Chrysler's history," said Ranieri. "We extend to Beth Ann our best wishes in the next phase of her career."
__________________
Rick
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