U.S. auto retail big AutoNation named Stellantis govt Mike Manley as its subsequent CEO to interchange the outgoing Mike Jackson.
The strikes are efficient Nov. 1, when Jackson, 72, will retire from his submit in addition to the corporate’s board, the nation’s largest new-vehicle retailer stated.
Manley, 57, had been CEO of Fiat Chrysler Cars earlier than its merger earlier this yr with PSA Group. He was then named head of Americas for Stellantis.
AutoNation beforehand had stated Jackson, AutoNation’s longtime chief, would retire as CEO by April 2022.
Manley, who would be the fourth individual to carry the AutoNation CEO title since 2019, brings a wealth of automaker expertise to AutoNation. His present function at Stellantis was created with the January merger of FCA and PSA. Earlier than that, he served as CEO of FCA from July 2018 to January 2021.
“I’m excited to affix AutoNation and the manager crew,” Manley stated in a press release. “AutoNation has set the benchmark for automotive retail excellence. It has completed various {industry} first milestones, together with being the one automotive retailer to promote over 13 million autos. Most just lately, the corporate has proven its focus and dedication by producing 5 consecutive record-breaking quarters, throughout an unprecedented time.”
AutoNation has had churn in its prime job over the previous few years.
AutoNation employed {industry} outsider Carl Liebert as CEO in early 2019 to interchange Jackson. He lasted simply months on the job earlier than AutoNation in July 2019 named CFO Cheryl Miller as CEO.
Miller went on medical go away in April 2020, when AutoNation once more named Jackson to fill in as CEO till Miller returned. However she resigned from AutoNation in July 2020 and Jackson once more turned CEO and his contract was prolonged till April 12, 2022.
AutoNation Chairman Rick Burdick in a press release touted Manley’s technique, enterprise improvement and operational expertise.
“Mike Manley brings appreciable and complete automotive expertise to AutoNation, together with technique, enterprise improvement, and a deal with operations,” the chairman stated. “Mike’s distinctive efficiency over time aligns with AutoNation’s dedication to excellence, a peerless buyer expertise, and revolutionary industry-leading drive.”
Jackson stated he has been honored to serve AutoNation as CEO for 22 years and has confidence in Manley to guide AutoNation.
“We’ve got constructed an admired and revered firm from coast to coast,” Jackson stated in a press release. “I’m ceaselessly grateful to all associates for our achievements and thank them from the underside of my coronary heart for all their efforts, particularly by way of the pandemic.”
Manley began in 2000 with DaimlerChrysler the place he served as director of community improvement in the UK. In 2008, his function shifted to supervise product planning and gross sales exterior of North America and he later served as govt vice chairman of worldwide gross sales and world product planning operations. Manley additionally has led manufacturers, serving as CEO of Jeep and Ram and as COO for the corporate’s Asia Pacific area.
With Manley’s departure, Stellantis on Tuesday stated Mark Stewart, COO of North America and Antonio Filosa, COO of Latin America, will will report on to CEO Carlos Tavares.
Tavares, in a press release, stated Manley was first a competitor however has been a companion, colleague and buddy.
“From the very earliest days of our discussions, we shared a very frequent imaginative and prescient, perception and dedication and it is on these stable foundations, constructed over the previous a number of years, that Stellantis has delivered its spectacular early outcomes,” Tavares stated in a press release. “So, whereas I am personally sorry to now not have Mike as a colleague, I am equally delighted for his new CEO function and glad that he shall be becoming a member of the Board of the Stellantis Basis.”