Jim Press leaves Toyota to join Chrysler as president

C. E. White · 2007-09-06T15:03:16+00:00

Well this is interesting....Jim Press leaves Toyota to join Chrysler as presidentDale JewettAutomotive NewsSeptember 6, 2007 - 9:25 am EST UPDATED: 9/5/07 10:03 a.m. ESTJim Press, Toyota Motor Corp.'s top executive in the United States, today was named a vice chairman and president of Chrysler LLC.In his new job, Press has the same title as Tom LaSorda. Chrysler said LaSorda will be responsible for manufacturing and suppliers, while Press will be responsible for sales and marketing, product strategy and service and parts. Both will report to Chrysler CEO Bob Nardelli.Press worked for Toyota for 37 years.Press, who was president and chief operating officer of Toyota North America and a director of the Japanese automaker, will be responsible for Chrysler's North American sales, international sales, global marketing, product strategy, and service and parts, Chrysler said.Press is the second high-ranking Toyota executive to defect to Chrysler in the last month. In late August, Lexus division vice president of marketing Debra Wahl Meyer, joined Chrysler as the company's chief marketing officer.Press joins Chrysler after 37 years with Toyota and two months after DaimlerChrysler AG sold a majority stake in the carmaker to private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management in a $7.4-billion deal."Part of my new responsibilities will be strengthening and energizing the dealer body," Press said in a statement. "This is something I was passionate about at Toyota and will be passionate about at Chrysler."Meanwhile, Toyota named Shigeru Hayakawa to replace Press as president of its North American operations.You may e-mail Dale Jewett at PRESS RELEASE: Press leaves Toyota for ChryslerChairman and CEO Robert L. Nardelli teams former Toyota chief With Vice Chairman and President Thomas W. LaSorda"World-class supply and demand leaders"Joins Nardelli and LaSorda in new Office of the Chairman and On Board of Directors of Chrysler LLCPress to run North American Sales, International...

Sep 06, 2007 23 Replies

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Hachiroku 18 years ago

It really is getting bad. Guys like Bud and Jim, and Al Kalish, et al are gone. The old 'family' Toyota dealerships have given way to the Mega Dealers who really don't care about anything but making the sale.

Jim used to be happy (in a way...) to see you if you came in after the sale. Service managers now have the attitude of; get the car in, get it out fast (which is really not a bad thing...) and get this person out of here. The after the sale 'experience' is entirely different than it was in the 70's and 80's...

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Hachiroku 18 years ago

I would watch a Korean MFGR or even a Chinese once they get their quality problems sorted out...

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n5hsr 18 years ago

You can say that again.

Charles of Schaumburg

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Ray O 18 years ago

I enjoyed my first district the most - MA west of 495, along and north of the Mass Pike, VT, and NH except the coast. The dealerships were all owned by individuals who were for the most part honest, and shared interests with me - cars and the outdoors!

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