The buzz is true...
Paris, France -- DaimlerChrysler today announced that after
a thirty-three year career that included
distinguished service
in the area of Product Development and Design and
membership on the Board of Management of
DaimlerChrysler AG, Thomas C. Gale has announced
his
intention to retire at the end of the year.
"As many of my close friends and colleagues know, I
have
been contemplating retirement for some time. When
Jim
Holden took his position as President, I agreed to
stay on
and see the future product plan through, while
continuing to
build the team to succeed me. Now that both of
those
processes are complete and we're in to the next
phase of
development, it's time for me to step back and
spend more
time with my family," said Gale. "Although I am
retiring,
I'm pleased to say that Jim has asked me to
continue in an
advisory role for another two years."
Juergen E. Schrempp, Chairman of DaimlerChrysler AG
said, "Tom has made a great contribution to
DaimlerChrysler beyond his design responsibilities.
As a
Board of Management member he challenged us to
think
differently, and like all strong leaders he built a
solid team.
We are confident that with Rich Schaum and Trevor
Creed
he has put competent successors in place."
Tom is an icon in the automobile industry and a
close
friend. While he will surely be missed, he has
built a great
team to carry on the legacy," said James P. Holden,
President and CEO, DaimlerChrysler Corporation and
Board of Management Member, DaimlerChrysler AG.
"Tom has mentored a wide group of people --
especially in
design -- and institutionalized his risk-embracing,
forward-thinking attitude which has become part of
the
fabric of this company's culture."
Best known for leading a series of concept, and
later
production vehicle introductions that began to
change the
Chrysler and Dodge brands from conservative,
boxy-styled
automobiles to more aggressive, clean and
forward-looking
vehicles, Gale and his team introduced the
"cab-forward"
design architecture to mainstream automobiles. He
began
his career at Chrysler in 1967 as a Body Engineer
in the
Engineering Office.
"Tom and his team created the Chrysler look -- he
wanted
our products to be in his words, remarkable," said
Holden.
"So while he's slowing down from the 24-7 schedule
his
position has demanded, it doesn't mean that we'll
be
without his counsel moving forward -- Tom will
maintain an
advisory role with the Chrysler Group for the next
two
years."
After his retirement, Gale will open a design
consulting
business and work with the Chrysler Group.
He also plans to consult on the automotive
aftermarket.
Gale's engineering and product development
responsibilities
are reassigned to Richard O. Schaum.
Schaum is appointed Executive Vice President -
Product
Development and Quality & General Manager -
Passenger
Car Operations.
Both he and Trevor M. Creed, recently appointed
Senior
Vice President - Design, will continue to report to
Gale
through the end of the year. Upon Gale's
retirement, both
will report directly to Holden.
In his new position, Schaum is responsible for all
matters
pertaining to Platform Engineering, Engineering
Technologies, Regulatory Affairs, Product Planning
and
Quality for DaimlerChrysler Corporation (DCC).
Reporting to Schaum are Susan M. Cischke, Senior
Vice
President - Regulatory Affairs & General Manager -
Passenger Car Operations, and Bernard I. Robertson,
Senior Vice President - Engineering Technologies &
General
Manager Truck Operations.
Also reporting to Schaum in his new capacity is
Eric R.
Ridenour, Vice President - Product Planning.
Schaum's replacement as Senior Vice President -
Platform
Engineering and Quality & General Manager - Power
Train
Operations will be named at a later date.
Posted: 09/28/2000
Source: DC
-------------------------------------------
Steven St.Laurent
Test Engineer
Test Branch, GSD, MCTSSA
MARCORSYSCOM, USMC
760-725-2506 (DSN 365-2506)
Work:mailto:stlaurents@mctssa.usmc.mil
Home:mailto:saint1958@home.com
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Fri Jun 20 2003 - 11:55:00 EDT