Chrysler Group LLC Deputy Chief Executive Jim Press is planning to leave the auto maker by November, according to three people who have been informed of the plan.
Press, 62, was the only member of Chrysler’s senior leadership team to remain with the company after a fast-track bankruptcy under the supervision of the U.S. Treasury.
Press’ arrival almost two years ago thrilled Chrysler dealers who had complained about an inexperienced dealer-relations staff. He had been COO of Toyota Motor North America and was the first American appointed to Toyota Motor Corp.’s board.
Mr. Press’s high standing among dealers was expected to help the company win support among dealers to shrink its network. His deep knowledge of Toyota’s corporate culture was seen as an asset to Chrysler.
But as Chrysler hurtled toward bankruptcy, his job of motivating dealers grew harder and his reputation suffered. Early this year, with U.S. light-vehicle sales at 27-year lows and Chrysler running out of cash, the automaker sought 78,000 more orders from dealers already overstocked with vehicles.
At the National Automobile Dealers Association convention in late January, Press pushed for the orders, telling dealers it was their job to save the Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep brands. His speech received two standing ovations and prompted some to call for him to take his message to the nation via a television address.
But on Feb. 5, with the company still 15,000 vehicles short of its goal, Press took a different tone in pleading with dealers to take on more cars.
“If you decide not to do that, we’ve got a good memory of who helped this company make it,” he said. “You can either help us or burn us all down.”
After two deadline extensions Chrysler reached its target. But the orders and an initial infusion of $4 billion in federal aid weren’t enough to keep Chrysler out of bankruptcy.
