Fiat Chrysler Automobiles named Tim Kuniskis as the new global head for Maserati and Alfa Romeo while trimming some responsibilities from the brands' multitasking former boss, U.S. sales chief Reid Bigland.
Kuniskis, 51, assumes responsibility for Maserati and Alfa Romeo after serving as head of passenger car brands such as Dodge, Chrysler and Fiat, FCA said in a statement Monday.
The company also named Steve Beahm to replace Kuniskis as head of passenger cars in North America, effective immediately.
The moves will allow Bigland, 50, to focus more on North America, FCA's most profitable region. FCA's U.S. sales have fallen for 17 consecutive months, in part as the automaker scaled back on less-profitable fleet volume.
Beahm, 54, most recently served as head of Maserati North America and previously led FCA's supply chain management group in North America.
Both Bigland and Kuniskis will continue to serve as members of FCA's Group Executive Council, the automaker's highest-level management decision-making body, FCA said.
Bigland will continue to head of the automaker's entire sales operations in the United States and maintain his role as CEO of FCA Canada.
Alfa, Maserati focus
The shuffle will give more-focused oversight of FCA's two remaining premium brands. FCA has spent billions trying to resurrect the long-ignored Alfa Romeo for more than a decade, but it has fallen wildly short of optimistic volume and product expectations it laid out in 2014.
"With the launch of the Alfa Romeo Giulia and Stelvio and the Maserati Levante complete, we must now intensify our focus on the commercial elements that will drive global growth for these brands," FCA CEO Sergio Marchionne said in the statement.
