Stellantis reshuffles Ram and Jeep leadership as Turin automaker presses North American turnaround

Stellantis, the Turin-headquartered automotive giant, has announced fresh leadership changes at two of its largest brands, according to Car and Driver. CEO Antonio Filosa appointed Matt VanDyke as chief executive of Ram and Branden Coté as CEO of Jeep, continuing a pattern of executive reshuffles that began when Filosa himself took the top job in 2025. The moves mark the latest attempt to stabilise the group's troubled American operations, where both brands have faced mounting pressure from slowing sales and the costly transition to electric vehicles.

The appointments come as Stellantis navigates one of the automotive industry's most complex restructurings. The merger of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and the PSA Group created a sprawling multinational with brands ranging from Peugeot and Citroën to Dodge and Lancia, each with distinct market positions and turnaround timelines. North America, home to Ram and Jeep, represents a critical profit centre for the group, but both brands have struggled to maintain market share amid intensifying competition from Tesla, legacy rivals, and a wave of new Chinese entrants targeting the American market.

Coté replaces Tim Kuniskis, who had held dual responsibility for both Jeep and the broader Stellantis Americas operation. The separation of these roles suggests the company believes each brand requires dedicated executive attention. Motor1.com described both VanDyke and Coté as "longtime automotive executives," though the wire offered limited detail on their prior tenures.

For Piemonte's automotive sector, the reshuffle carries implications beyond Turin. Stellantis' engineering and platform development remain heavily centred in Italy, meaning decisions made by new American brand leadership ripple through Piedmontese design and manufacturing facilities. The shift toward electrification, which both Ram and Jeep must accelerate to meet regulatory and competitive demands, will test the group's ability to balance legacy product portfolios with next-generation platforms developed in Italy.

Filosa's tenure has been marked by cost discipline and a focus on profitability over volume growth—a departure from his predecessor's strategy. Whether the new Ram and Jeep leadership can execute a similar pivot while defending market position in the world's largest automotive market remains uncertain. The wire offered no timeline for specific brand performance targets or product announcements.