Changes in Chrysler Group Management
The Chrysler Group has announced changes in the
company's senior management. Jim Schroer, 51, who has been executive vice
president of Global Sales, Marketing and Service since February 2001, has
informed the company that he will be leaving at the end of this month, in
order to pursue a new career in a marketing intensive business. The
company has named Joe Eberhardt, 39, to succeed Schroer as the head of the
Chrysler Group Sales, Marketing and Service organization, effective June 1,
2003.
In addition, as part of its succession planning, the company made a further
appointment, related to a previous announcement in January, concerning
DaimlerChrysler Board of Management member Thomas W. Sidlik, who will
assume responsibility for DaimlerChrysler's Global Procurement and Supply,
succeeding Gary C. Valade, who will retire at the end of the year. In this
connection, Peter M. Rosenfeld, 45, has been named Chrysler Group executive
vice president for Procurement and Supply, effective December 16, 2003.
Eberhardt and Rosenfeld will both be members of the Chrysler Group
Executive Committee.
"I am proud to have been a part of the terrific team that has been
transforming the Chrysler Group these past two and one-half years," said
Schroer. "It has been very gratifying to work with a sales, marketing and
service organization that is one of the best in the industry, and well
equipped to take on the tough challenges ahead. This is the right decision
for me to make at this time. There are other areas of the business world
that also interest me, and I want the time and freedom to pursue them."
"Jim Schroer has made a key contribution to the dynamic direction we are
taking with the Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep® vehicle brands as well as
with the Mopar parts name," said Dieter Zetsche, Chrysler Group president
and chief executive officer.
"His talent and energy, along with his expertise in world-class marketing,
have been very important in leading our professional sales and marketing
team and dedicated dealer organization in critical times. On behalf of the
company, I would like to thank Jim for his tireless efforts and commitment
to the Chrysler Group. We wish him well in his new business endeavors."
Joe Eberhardt, 39, has been the president and CEO of all DaimlerChrysler
U.K. operations (Mercedes-Benz passenger cars and commercial vehicles,
smart, Chrysler and Jeep, and Mitsubishi Canter) since October 1999. Under
his leadership, DaimlerChrysler says its passenger vehicle unit sales in the United
Kingdom have more than doubled in a stable market. Through retail network initiatives across all brands, dealer profitability
has improved at the same time. Eberhardt had previously been in sales
leadership positions at Mercedes-Benz in the United States for over ten
years, including heading up that unit's entire sales, marketing and service
organization and running the Mercedes-Benz Manhattan dealerships in New
York City for two years. During that 1988-99 period, Mercedes more than
tripled its sales volume in America. He also led the product marketing and
development area for the Mercedes-Benz passenger car business both in the
United States and on a global basis.
Joe Eberhardt was born in Stuttgart, Germany, on August 26, 1963. He
joined the company in 1982. He received his BA and MS degrees in Germany,
and earned his Master of Business Administration degree at the
New York University Leonard N. Stern School of Business, in Manhattan, in
1992. His wife, Kate - who is from Chestnut Ridge, New York -- is
expecting their third child in June.
"The current competitive climate in our industry is more intense than it
has ever been," said Zetsche, "and we do not expect it to get any easier.
With his years of experience and proven track record for success in the
auto industry in the United States and abroad, Joe Eberhardt is the right
man to take on the challenge to profitably grow our business in this
demanding environment. He knows the American vehicle market inside and
out, and is a product guy through and through."
Peter Rosenfeld has been in charge of Chrysler Group Procurement since
April 1999. He joined the company in 1982, and has held positions of
increasing responsibility in the procurement and supply area for over
twenty years. Rosenfeld, who was born in Los Angeles, received his
Bachelor of Arts degree in International Business from Georgetown
University, in Washington, DC, in 1979, and his Master's degree in Finance
from Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, in 1982.
More F&I

Integrating Nontraditional F&I Products
The niche presents a strategic advantage for auto dealerships as they move to adapt to fast-changing consumer expectations in today’s market.
Read More →
Trust Is Personal
Technology, no matter how efficient, can’t replace what the human F&I manager can do, which is to bridge the divide between cyberspace and the in-store experience.
Read More →
Amplify 2026 Billed as Turning Innovation Into Results
Reynolds and Reynolds says its annual retail summit will connect dealers with practical strategies, peer insight, and technology-driven ideas.
Read More →
Own Your Outcome: F&I in the Digital Customer Journey
Finance has historically been the last step in the car-buying process, but it doesn’t have to be. The customer’s journey starts long before they arrive at the dealership, and so should F&I’s involvement.
Read More →
Tariffs Could Raise Insurance Premiums
As U.S. import tariffs affect repair costs, consumers might find it more affordable to replace a damaged vehicle, according to recent Insurify tariff analysis.
Read More →
Smaller Loans, Longer Terms
The youngest generation of car buyers is more likely to finance less expensive vehicles, more than half of generation Z consumers borrowing less than $25,000.
Read More →
New Lifetime Battery F&I Product Meant to Drive Dealer Traffic
EFG Cos. offering is intended to create lifetime auto dealer engagement with customers.
Read More →
The Psychology Behind Menus That Increase Add-On Sales
There is a science to crafting a menu that gives customers confidence in the choices presented, and moving the process outside the F&I office can further boost results.
Read More →
Why Your F&I PVR Is Misleading You
Here’s a handy checklist of the numbers to track in 2026 instead.
Read More →
Auto Consumer Anxiety Presents Opportunity
A survey of U.S. drivers found the majority are concerned about finances and the economy, but those fears make many ready to buy vehicle-protection products.
Read More →