After working at Chrysler for 32 years, Dodge and Ram brand CEO Tim Kuniskis has announced his retirement. Since 2011, Kuniskis has been at the forefront of FCA US management and a critical factor in the company’s success, particularly by leading Dodge into the modern performance era. Kuniskis worked his way up through the sales and dealer operation in the Orlando area for Chrysler starting in 1993. From there, he was a senior manager at the Midwest Business Center before becoming a Marketing Director for the Chrysler brand in 2009.
More than anything, Kuniskis was vital to the launches of Dodge’s modern classics, including the 707 hp Challenger Hellcat, Charger Hellcat, Durango Hellcat, and all of the encompassing derivatives, including the 840 hp Challenger Demon and 1,025 hp Challenger Demon 170 – the finale of what can best be considered as the most fun and exciting decade Dodge has ever had.
Kuniskis retiring comes as Stellantis declares an end to the V8 engine, and takes risks into electrification, including the all-electric Dodge Charger Daytona. Two crucial decisions that Dodge and Ram enthusiasts are no doubt at odds with.
In 2014, former FCA CEO and late Sergio Marchionne allowed Kuniskis to lead the Dodge brand, replacing Ralph Gilles, who had moved to product design. Under Kuniskis’ leadership, Dodge released a new era of muscle cars with its Hellcat Hemi Engines, which took the brand to far greater heights than ever before. One year later, Kuniskis was named Head of Passenger Car Brands, leading Chrysler, Dodge, SRT, and FIAT. Due to taking on so many roles, he was named Group Executive Council (GEC), the highest management-level decision-making body within the FCA organization.
In 2018, Kuniskis left the Chrysler, Dodge, SRT, and FIAT brands to become the global head of the Alfa Romeo brand, head of Maserati, and head of Jeep. When FCA merged with PSA Groupe, forming Stellantis, Kuniskis would drop his job duties and focus solely on leading the Dodge brand in 2021. Finally, just last year, Kuniskis was tasked with leading Ram, following Mike Koval, Jr., who was moving to lead the Mopar parts division.
Christine Feuell has been appointed Ram brand CEO in addition to her current responsibility as Chrysler brand CEO. Meanwhile, Matt McAlear has been appointed Dodge brand CEO and will become a member of the Top Executive Team, moving up from his previous role, where he led Dodge sales operations.
These changes will be in effect June 1, 2024, and we hope Tim Kuniskis enjoys his retirement. Cheers to leading Dodge out of the dark ages, and into one of the most exciting and attainable American performance brands the auto industry has ever seen.
