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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2009
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Chrysler Pilfers Toyota's Top US Executive

Firm's highest-ranking non-Japanese ever jumps ship

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(Newser) – Toyota North America's president will become the new co-president and vice chairman of Chrysler, the Detroit Free Press reports. Jim Press, the highest-ranking non-Japanese exec in Toyota's history, brings a reputation as a talented manager to Chrysler, which is in the process of transforming into a private company after being sold by Daimler.

Press will share both positions with Tom LaSorda, replaced as CEO by Bob Nardelli but in charge of labor negotiations. "Our top team now consists of a world-class 'supply' leader in Tom and an equally world-class 'demand' leader in Jim," Nardelli said. Though it's rare for Detroit to grab its Japanese competitor's execs, Chrysler recently lured away a Lexus VP.

Jim Press, president of Toyota Motors North America, poses with his personal Toyota Tacoma 4x4 at the Toyota's U.S. headquarters in Torrance, Calif., in this May 22, 2006 file photo. Chrysler has hired away Jim Press, Toyota' top North American executive, to run its sales and marketing operations, Chrysler...
Jim Press, president of Toyota Motors North America, poses with his personal Toyota Tacoma 4x4 at the Toyota's U.S. headquarters in Torrance, Calif., in this May 22, 2006 file photo. Chrysler has hired...   (Associated Press)
Jim Press, President of Toyota North America, responds to a question during am Economic Club of Chicago luncheon at the Chicago Auto Show in this Feb. 8, 2007 file photo. Chrysler has hired away Jim Press, Toyota' top North American executive, to run its sales and marketing operations, Chrysler LLC...
Jim Press, President of Toyota North America, responds to a question during am Economic Club of Chicago luncheon at the Chicago Auto Show in this Feb. 8, 2007 file photo. Chrysler has hired away Jim Press,...   (Associated Press)
Unsold 2007 PT Cruisers sit in a long row at a Chrysler-Jeep dealership in the east Denver suburb of Aurora, Colo., on Sunday, Aug. 19, 2007. Major automakers are scheduled Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2007 to report August sales, which some analysts expect to decline because of sluggish consumer spending, higher...
Unsold 2007 PT Cruisers sit in a long row at a Chrysler-Jeep dealership in the east Denver suburb of Aurora, Colo., on Sunday, Aug. 19, 2007. Major automakers are scheduled Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2007 to...   (Associated Press)
A Chrysler vehicle on display at a dealership in Sunnyvale, Calif., Monday, Aug. 27, 2007. Automaker DaimlerChrysler AG said Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2007 that its second-quarter profit fell 14 percent, even as the Chrysler division and financial services business that it has sold to a private equity group posted better...
A Chrysler vehicle on display at a dealership in Sunnyvale, Calif., Monday, Aug. 27, 2007. Automaker DaimlerChrysler AG said Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2007 that its second-quarter profit fell 14 percent, even...   (Associated Press)
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