Chrysler LLC Announces New Head of Russia Operations
Auburn Hills, Michigan (ots/PRNewswire)
-- Newly created position supports growth strategy in the Russian market
-- Russia is one of the fastest growing markets for Chrysler with 62
percent growth year-to-date
-- Long-time Chrysler management team member, John Stech, named CEO of
Russia OperationsWith a new operation established in Russia, Chrysler LLC management has appointed John Stech as the Head of Chrysler Russia LLC. In this newly created role, Stech will be responsible for all operational activities in the market, and will report directly to Jon Holcomb, Director - Chrysler Group Africa, Asia, Middle East and Central/Eastern Europe. In his new assignment, Stech will manage Chrysler LLC sales / marketing, aftersales and finance.
"John's appointment is another example of the Company's strategy to bring experienced talent to key areas of the business, as we have been doing across the Company," said Thomas Hausch - Vice President of International Sales. "John brings a wealth of knowledge from his previous sales experience in Germany and the U.S., and more recently as head of our operations in Egypt."
Hausch said Russia is a key growth market as Chrysler strives to increase its sales outside North America. At the end of August 2007, sales in the Russian market had nearly exceeded the total calendar year sales for all of 2006 (4,665 units), and were up 62 percent year-to-date. The Company has an aggressive plan in place for the next four months, and sees opportunity for significant growth. It is laying the groundwork for a solid management team to support these initiatives.
"Chrysler sales have seen strong growth in Russia over the last few years, with 2006 sales more than doubling those of 2005," said Joachim Schmidt, Vice President of DaimlerChrysler Africa, Asia, Middle East & Central/Eastern Europe. "We expect this positive trend to continue, and John will bring considerable experience and leadership to an already existing, dedicated team. Together, we are confident that they will build a solid future for Chrysler in Russia."
Currently, Stech is the CEO of DaimlerChrysler Egypt responsible for the sales, marketing and aftersales of Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge and Mercedes-Benz Passenger Car brands. He also sits on the board of the Arab American Vehicles CKD production facility. Prior to the assignment in Egypt which began in 2006, Stech held a number of senior management positions with Chrysler Group in Auburn Hills, Michigan as well as Mercedes-Benz, which he joined in 1996.
Stech holds a bachelor's degree in Chemistry and German from Bucknell University and an M.B.A. from the University of New Hampshire. He will begin his new role full time on November 1, 2007.
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Contact:
Yvonne Malmgren, Chrysler LLC, +1-248-512-1783 (office),
+1-248-761-2776 (cell), ym32@chrysler.com; Daria Fomina, Chrysler
Russia LLC, +7-495-745-26-10 (office), +7-916-390-91-73 (cell),
Daria.Fomina@daimlerchrysler.com ; NOTE TO EDITORS: Additional
information and news from Chrysler LLC is available at:
http://www.media.chrysler.com