Management Shuffle At FCA Sends Bigland To Head Up Alfa
FCA is shuffling the management deck, assigning two experienced executives to new roles within the company.
Reid Bigland, formerly the head of the Ram Brand, will now become Alfa Romeo’s top executive for the NAFTA region. Bigland, who once oversaw the Dodge brand, currently is also responsible for Chrysler Canada and is on the company’s Board of Directors. Bigland has been mentioned as a potential successor to CEO Sergio Marchionne, and the Alfa appointment will be a major test of his management abilities, given the uphill climb that the brand will face in establishing a solid foothold in North America, and meeting Marchionne’s lofty sales goals.
Taking Bigland’s place at Ram is Bob Hegbloom, a Ram veteran with wide ranging experience both at the truck brand and with Chrysler’s other truck products. Hegbloom will assume control of one of FCA’s growth engines, but will also be responsible for ensuring that the truck brand doesn’t fall behind technologically, in the wake of developments like Ford’s upcoming aluminum F-150, and the new V8 diesel Nissan Titan being developed by former Ram boss Fred Diaz.
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Maybe he knows something is coming and is positioning himself to reap the rewards. Maybe he knows it is a challenge and if succesful his chances for CEO-ship rise exponentially. Maybe someone is sending him under the bus. Time will telll.
He's a very good choice, a proven performer. The Alfa Romeo project is an important part of achieving FCA's goals. Sergio has picked someone who has shown he can deliver.
Bigland has struck me as the type of guy that will go far in the automotive industry. He seems very confident.
Considering how long it is taking GM to revive Cadillac, I think Marchionne greatly overestimates Alfa Romeo's potential.