Chrysler's "Acting Chief Innovative Officer" Breaks Cover

Robert Farago
by Robert Farago

As opposed to… "Inactive Subaltern Status Quo Soldier?" Whatever you call Peter Arnell, Automotive News [AN, sub] reports that Chrysler's "Big Idea" consultant is prowling Auburn Hills, tweaking the American automaker's branding, product planning, customer relations and dealership coordination. (Arnell was the brains behind the hugely expensive Celin Dion – Chrysler Pacifica promotion; regarded as a total flop.) Reading between the lines, AN reckons Arnell may exacerbate Chrysler's long-standing tradition of internecine conflict. "Arnell's consulting services bring him into areas of the company that already have bosses, raising the spectre of possible turf wars and executive conflicts. Among the people and the areas to watch: Trevor Creed is Chrysler's chief designer; Deborah Meyer is chief marketing officer; Frank Klegon heads product development." Arnell– salary unknown– may have the edge on his erstwhile rivals. He worked with CEO Bob Nardelli over at Home Depot, where the dream team unleashed the caps lock ORANGE WORKS in the winter of '06. The range of chi-chi bespoke products (e.g. a martini shaker-shaped fire extinguisher) did nothing much for Home Depot's bottom line.

Robert Farago
Robert Farago

More by Robert Farago

Comments
Join the conversation
4 of 9 comments
  • L47_V8 L47_V8 on Mar 03, 2008
    Robert Schwartz : March 3rd, 2008 at 12:01 pm “the hugely expensive Celin Dion - Chrysler Pacifica promotion” Admit it. You thought the car looked good by comparison. It was certainly a stark contrast: the grossly obese Pacifica next to Skeletine Dion. Ugh.
  • D996 D996 on Mar 03, 2008

    Great, another person running around to tell you how bad an employee you are and how much you need them. Aren't all these management consultants types afflicted with some sort of Munchausen by proxy syndrome?

  • Yankinwaoz Yankinwaoz on Mar 03, 2008

    Notify Scott Adams... he could mine this guy and Chrysler for weeks of Dilbert material.

  • Crc Crc on Mar 03, 2008

    http://www.demotivators.com/consulting.html From the demotivational genuises at despair.com, "Consulting...if you're not part of the solution, there is good money to be made in prolonging the problem."

Next