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Stellantis has made a leadership change in North America, naming veteran automotive executives Matt VanDyke and Branden Coté to take control of the Ram and Jeep® brands.
In this articleâ–ľ
VanDyke Takes The Wheel At Ram
Coté Steps In At Jeep®
Kuniskis Praises Both Executives
Another Piece Of The Stellantis Reset
VanDyke becomes CEO of Ram on July 20, while Coté takes over as CEO of Jeep on August 3. Both will report directly to Tim Kuniskis, Head of American brands, North America Marketing, and Retail Strategy for Stellantis North America.
The appointments are the latest step in CEO Antonio Filosa’s effort to rebuild Stellantis’ leadership team around executives who understand customers, dealers, branding, and the North American market.
Ram CEO Matt VanDyke. (Stellantis).
VanDyke Takes The Wheel At Ram
Matt VanDyke arrives at Ram with a background focused heavily on marketing, digital retail, and brand development.
Most recently, VanDyke served as President of Shift Digital, a digital marketing company working with major automotive brands. Before that, he was CEO of FordDirect, the joint venture between Ford Motor Company and its dealers focused on digital advertising, retail tools, and customer connections.
VanDyke also spent years at Ford Motor Company in several senior positions. His résumé includes Head of U.S. Marketing, Vice President of Marketing for Ford of Europe, and Head of Global Marketing, Sales, and Service for Lincoln.
That experience gives Ram a leader who understands both the corporate and retail sides of the auto business. It also comes at an important time for the brand.
Ram is in the middle of a product push that includes the return of the HEMI® V8, the upcoming 1500 Rumble Bee lineup, the new 1500 TRX SRT, and continued work on the electrified REV program. The brand is also trying to reconnect with buyers after pricing concerns, product delays, and changing powertrain plans.
VanDyke succeeds Kuniskis, who continued overseeing Ram while handling broader North American duties. Installing a dedicated CEO should let Kuniskis focus on the larger portfolio while VanDyke directs Ram’s daily operations.
Branden Coté will take over as Jeep® CEO on August 3rd. (Stellantis).
Coté Steps In At Jeep®
Branden Coté will take charge of Jeep on August 3, replacing Bob Broderdorf, who is taking medical leave.
Stellantis says Broderdorf will move into a new leadership position within the company when he returns. The automaker did not provide additional details about that future assignment.
Coté brings about 20 years of experience across automakers and dealership operations. Most recently, he worked at AutoNation as a brand president overseeing several major automotive brands.
His earlier career included leadership roles with Aston Martin Lagonda, Canoo, Mercedes-AMG, Mercedes-Benz USA, and other automotive retail organizations.
That combination of manufacturer and dealership experience could help Jeep improve affordability, rebuild volume, and simplify its lineup for American buyers.
Jeep remains one of Stellantis’ most recognizable brands, but it faces growing competition and a changing SUV market. The brand is balancing traditional products like the Wrangler and Grand Cherokee with newer electrified models, including the Wagoneer S and future Recon.
Coté will also inherit the challenge of strengthening dealer relationships while keeping Jeep products within reach of mainstream customers. That has become a major priority under Filosa and Kuniskis as Stellantis works to reverse declining North American market share.
Tim Kuniskis, Head of American brands, North America Marketing, and Retail Strategy. (Stellantis).
Kuniskis Praises Both Executives
Kuniskis said both incoming leaders have the experience needed to grow the brands while keeping customers at the center of decisions.
“Matt and Branden are proven leaders who will build on our successes and take these iconic American brands to the next level,” Kuniskis said. “Their skills and deep industry experience align with our simple, but very important, customer-centric objective: to provide people with the brands and products they love and trust. I also want to thank Bob Broderdorf for his exceptional leadership of Jeep. Bob is a dedicated and valued colleague, and a friend to many across the company. I look forward to continuing our work together when he takes on his new role.”
The statement makes clear that Broderdorf is expected to remain an important part of Stellantis after his medical leave.
Stellantis CEO and North America COO Antonio Filosa. (Stellantis).
Another Piece Of The Stellantis Reset
These appointments are more than title changes. They are part of the wider management reset that has been underway since Filosa became CEO.
Stellantis has emphasized faster decision-making, better dealer communication, more competitive pricing, and products that match what American customers want. Putting experienced leaders directly in charge of Ram and Jeep gives both brands a clearer chain of command.
Both executives will be responsible for protecting two of Stellantis’ most important names during a critical period for the company.
Ram needs to maintain momentum as it expands its performance truck lineup and adjusts electrification plans. Jeep must preserve its identity while improving sales, pricing, and product execution.
For Kuniskis, the move creates additional leadership support as he oversees Stellantis’ American brands.
Robert S. Miller