Fiat Chrysler Automobiles has appointed Carl Smiley, a Magna Steyr and General Motors veteran who worked in engineering, supplier quality and purchasing, to the newly created position of chief purchasing and supply chain officer.
Smiley, 48, will report to CEO Mike Manley, who has been slowly reorganizing his senior management team since taking over the company's helm from longtime CEO Sergio Marchionne last summer, shortly before Marchionne's death. Smiley also was named to FCA's Group Executive Council, the automaker's highest operational body.
Smiley's past roles include president and board member at manufacturer Magna Steyr Asia. He also was senior vice president and general manager for connectivity and sensor products maker TE Connectivity.
FCA said Smiley held positions of increasing responsibility in engineering, supplier quality and purchasing at GM in the U.S., Mexico and China.
"Carl brings significant global experience to FCA and to the GEC both in an operational capacity and as a proven automotive business leader," Manley said in a statement Tuesday. "As we take the company into the New Year, we are deepening our bench of executive leaders while broadening the GEC's purview by adding the supply chain management function."
In another move, Scott Thiele, the North America head of purchasing, gets an expanded role as head of supply chain North America in addition to his current purchasing role.
Manley said Thiele was "pivotal in bringing global consistency to our purchasing operations over the past few years. Now, he will focus his efforts on driving innovation and intensifying collaboration with our suppliers in the North American region."
