DETROIT — Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, in the midst of hammering out details of its planned merger with France’s PSA Group, named a new head of purchasing and shifted the roles of two other key executives in North America.
Longtime auto supplier executive Martin Horneck was hired to lead FCA purchasing and supply chain management under Mark Stewart, COO of the company’s North America region. Stewart announced the move internally Monday in a memo obtained by Automotive News.
He replaces Scott Thiele, 50, who was assigned to a portfolio planning role, reporting to Stewart. Thiele also will handle global long-range plan coordination, reporting to Mark Chernoby, chief technical compliance officer.
Richard Cox, 48, previously the head of portfolio planning, was assigned responsibility for global business development special projects, Stewart said in a separate memo.
“In this new role, Richard will be responsible for leading and coordinating various work streams associated with the integration planning for the upcoming merger with PSA,” the memo said. “In addition, he will lead strategic projects with the group.”
All three job changes are effective immediately, the memos said.
FCA and PSA announced their merger in December to create the world’s fourth-largest automaker, but it will take more than a year to finalize the deal as the two companies figure out how to integrate their global operations and brands. PSA CEO Carlos Tavares said last month the two automakers have submitted 14 of 24 antitrust applications for various government approvals. The companies aim to close the deal by early 2021.
