• December 19, 2008

Deborah Meyer, VP/CMO of Chrysler, who came to the company last year from Toyota, is leaving. The company said only that she is leaving to pursue other opportunities. The cash-strapped company says it will eliminate the Chief Marketing Officer position entirely and distribute duties among executives, to wit:

Steven J. Landry, EVP/North American Sales, Marketing and Mopar Parts and Service, will also have responsibility over brand marketing, media and events, advertising, interactive and customer relationship management. Landry will continue to oversee Mopar Parts, service, sales programs, dealer operations, field operations and distribution and Chrysler Canada.

Michael Manley, EVP/International Sales and Global Product Planning Operations, will also handle corporate research and global product planning. Manley is also responsible for product planning, global demand planning, strategic portfolio planning, research, regional operations (Asia, Latin America, Europe, Middle East and Africa) and Chrysler de Mexico.

Chrysler, per a company release, is "refocusing its efforts in Asia, redirecting the sales and marketing function for the Asia Pacific Region, particularly in China, which will continue to report to Manley."

The company said global strategy will be centralized in Chrysler's Auburn Hills, Mich., headquarters under L. John Cataldo, VP/Business Development and Alliances.--Karl Greenberg