Chrysler Shuffles Brand Managers

Fiat SpA's Chrysler Group unit has named Al Gardner as president and CEO of the Chrysler brand, effective immediately.

Gardner, who had headed Chrysler's southeastern U.S. region from Orlando, Fla., succeeds Saad Chehab, who is now chief marketing officer for Fiat's Maserati brand.

Chehab, 46, has been credited for inspiring Chrysler's highly successful "imported from Detroit" and "halftime for America" ads during the last two Super Bowl football games

Separately, Pete Grady, who had responsibility for Chrysler's fleet operations in the U.S., takes over as president and CEO of Maserati North America. He succeeds Robert Graczyk, who has been appointed head of sales in Australia for all Chrysler and Fiat brands.

Steve Beahm, formerly vice president of U.S. sales operations for Chrysler, will become vice president of supply chain management on Jan. 1. His previous job will be assigned to Jeffrey Koomor, who currently directs Chrysler's northeast U.S. region.