- Tim Kuniskis will leave his position as CEO of Dodge and Ram, as he heads off into retirement.
- The executive served the company for 32 years, and leaves at a tumultuous time for his brands’ parent company, Stellantis.
- Kuniskis’ role at Dodge will be handed over to Matt McAlear, and leadership of Ram will go to Chrysler CEO Christine Feuell.
Tim Kuniskis is leaving Stellantis after 32 years with the company (and its predecessors including FCA and Chrysler Group). The straight-talking 57-year old executive has led the Dodge brand since January 2021, took over the reins at Ram in July 2023, and will now enter retirement effective June 1.
“I want to take the opportunity to warmly thank Tim for his passion, commitment and contributions to Stellantis and in defining the vision of the future electrified Ram and Dodge brands,” said Stellantis CEO, Carlos Tavares. “I wish him well in his retirement.”
Read: Tim Kuniskis Predicts A Fun Fast Future Despite The Demise Of ICE Muscle Cars
Under Kuniskis, the Dodge brand leaned into its muscular, American image, with the introduction of the “Brotherhood of Muscle” and the return of the Direct Connection subbrand that sells tuning products to help Dodge owners modify their vehicles.
Despite these challenges, he is not a Luddite. He oversaw the phase-out of the V8-powered Dodge Charger and Challenger, as well as the recent introduction of their replacements. The next-generation Charger, for instance, will be available with an all-electric powertrain, as well as a plug-in hybrid, six-cylinder power unit. Additionally, during his tenure at Ram, he played a key role in the company’s announcement that it would sell four electrified pickups in North America.
However, Kuniskis is leaving at a difficult time for the brands he oversaw. Ram sales declined 26 percent in Q1, and due to the phase-out of the Challenger and Charger in preparation for their successors, the Charger Coupe and Sedan, sales were down 16 percent for Dodge.
Stellantis’ relationship with North American suppliers has also become tense, leading to lawsuits, as control of its brands is increasingly centralized in Paris, and the company reckons with the cost of the transition to electrified powertrains.
The role of managing those challenges will now be up to Christine Feuell, who will be in charge of Ram, and Matt McAlear, who will take over the Dodge brand. The former executive will continue to lead Chrysler’s renaissance, while she handles the truck brand, and McAlear will be promoted from his role as the head of Dodge’s sales operation.
“I am confident that Chris will continue the work of Tim in leading the iconic Ram brand,” said Tavares. “Matt will bring a fresh perspective, while continuing to draw on the heritage of our iconic Dodge brand and leading the transition of the brand toward a sustainable future.”
