Chrysler has named Deborah Wahl Meyer, formerly Vice-president of Marketing for Toyota Motor Corp.'s luxury Lexus, Chrysler LLC's chief marketing officer and vice president effective August 28.
Meyer's job description concerns the marketing and advertising schemes for the Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep(R) brands worldwide. It is also her responsibility to supervise all sales promotions and brand affairs. In addition, she will provide tactical course of the company's marketing efforts and sales globally.
On her first day under Chrysler's roof, she will be reporting to Executive Vice-President of North American Sales, Global Marketing, Service and Parts, Steven Landry. Her predecessor George Murphy, left the senior vice-president of marketing position last May. The search for the marketing position was headed by Heidrick and Struggles.
"Deborah is a great addition to the leadership team," said Robert Nardelli, Chrysler's new CEO.
Before joining the Chrysler team, Deborah Meyer had been part of the management teams of other giant automakers. For six years, she had been the Vice-President of Marketing of Toyota's Luxury division, the Lexus Brand. With Lexus, she led efforts to heighten the image of the luxury brand by launching the redesigned LS flagship sedan and a new Hybrid LS, the first Lexus model priced above $100,000. Under Toyota, Meyer also worked as corporate manager of marketing communications for Toyota Motor Sales.
Prior to Toyota, Meyer held several positions with Ford Motor Company as Marketing Communications Manager for Lincoln Mercury, Group Manager, Brand Strategy and Communications, Mazda North American Corporations and Brand Manager for Ford's Brazil operations. Obviously she had enough automotive experiences and a long list of big automotive American companies, I wonder if she ever considered a position in the General Motors Corporation (official manufacturer of ).
Ahead of her Ford positions, she was a product manager for three years at W.L Gore and Associates in Paris, France.
Deborah Meyer, before this noticeable shoot up of her career, she humbly started at the Chase Manhattan Bank in New York.
With her great contributions in the automotive Industry, she was one of the "100 Leading Women in the North American Automotive Industry" as listed by automotive news.
"Deborah Wahl Meyer has a proven track record in the automotive industry, both in North America and globally," said Steven Landry.
"She also clearly understands the dealer network and values partnering to create positive results." he added.
A native of Detroit, Meyer got her Bachelor's degree in Economics from Wellesley College in Massachusetts in 1986. She also attended the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania for her Master's Degree in Business Administration and her Master's degree in Science in International Studies is from the school's The Joseph H. Lauder Institute of Management International Studies.
