U.S. auto retail big AutoNation Inc. mentioned Tuesday that it has named Stellantis government Mike Manley as its subsequent CEO to switch the outgoing Mike Jackson.
The strikes are efficient Nov. 1, when Jackson, 72, will retire from his publish in addition to the corporate’s board, the nation’s largest new-vehicle retailer mentioned.
Manley, 57, had been CEO of Fiat Chrysler Vehicles earlier than its merger earlier this 12 months with PSA Group. He was then named head of Americas for Stellantis.
AutoNation beforehand had mentioned 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 position 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 hitch AutoNation and the chief staff,” Manley mentioned in an announcement. “AutoNation has set the benchmark for automotive retail excellence. It has achieved a lot of {industry} first milestones, together with being the one automotive retailer to promote over 13 million automobiles. Most just lately, the corporate has proven its focus and willpower 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 switch 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 an announcement touted Manley’s technique, enterprise growth and operational expertise.
“Mike Manley brings appreciable and complete automotive expertise to AutoNation, together with technique, enterprise growth, and a concentrate on operations,” the chairman mentioned. “Mike’s distinctive efficiency through the years aligns with AutoNation’s dedication to excellence, a peerless buyer expertise, and revolutionary industry-leading drive.”
Jackson mentioned he has been honored to serve AutoNation as CEO for 22 years and has confidence in Manley to steer AutoNation.
“We now have constructed an admired and revered firm from coast to coast,” Jackson mentioned in an announcement. “I’m perpetually 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 growth in the UK. In 2008, his position shifted to supervise product planning and gross sales exterior of North America and he later served as government 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 mentioned Mark Stewart, COO of North America and Antonio Filosa, COO of Latin America, will will report on to CEO Carlos Tavares.
Tavares, in an announcement, mentioned Manley was first a competitor however has been a associate, colleague and pal.
“From the very earliest days of our discussions, we shared a really frequent imaginative and prescient, perception and dedication and it is on these strong foundations, constructed over the previous a number of years, that Stellantis has delivered its spectacular early outcomes,” Tavares mentioned in an announcement. “So, whereas I am personally sorry to not have Mike as a colleague, I am equally delighted for his new CEO position and glad that he can be becoming a member of the Board of the Stellantis Basis.”
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