Stellantis Appoints New CEOs for Jeep and Ram to Strengthen North American Growth
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Stellantis reshuffles leadership at Jeep and Ram
Stellantis has announced another major leadership change as the company continues reshaping its executive team under CEO Antonio Filosa. The latest appointments see Matt VanDyke becoming the new CEO of Ram, while Branden Coté has been named the next CEO of Jeep.
The move is part of Stellantis’ ongoing strategy to improve performance in North America and achieve its long term business targets.
Matt VanDyke becomes Ram CEO
Matt VanDyke officially takes charge of Ram with immediate effect.
VanDyke brings decades of experience in automotive marketing and executive leadership. Before joining Stellantis, he held senior positions at Ford and FordDirect. He also served as CEO of FordDirect for around one and a half years before becoming president of Shift Digital, an automotive focused marketing company.
His background includes:
- Executive leadership at Ford
- Former CEO of FordDirect
- President of Shift Digital
- Extensive experience in automotive marketing and retail strategy
VanDyke replaces Tim Kuniskis as Ram CEO. Kuniskis has been leading both Ram and his broader executive responsibilities since July 2025, when he was promoted to oversee Stellantis’ American brands along with North America marketing and retail strategy.
Although VanDyke is taking over Ram, Kuniskis will continue leading Stellantis’ American brands and North American operations.
Branden Coté to lead Jeep from August 3
Branden Coté will officially become Jeep CEO on August 3.
He replaces Bob Broderdorf, who is taking medical leave. Stellantis has confirmed that Broderdorf will return to the company later in a different leadership role, although the exact position has not yet been announced.
Coté also brings extensive automotive industry experience.
His previous roles include:
- Leadership positions at Mercedes Benz
- Leadership experience at Aston Martin
- Former President of AutoNation
- Automotive technology consultant
His experience spans manufacturing, retail operations and executive management, making him a strong addition to Jeep’s leadership team.
Both executives will report to Tim Kuniskis
Even though Ram now has a new CEO, Tim Kuniskis remains one of Stellantis’ key executives.
Both Matt VanDyke and Branden Coté will report directly to Kuniskis, who continues to oversee American brands along with North America marketing and retail strategy.
This structure allows Stellantis to keep experienced leadership in place while giving Ram and Jeep dedicated CEOs focused on their individual brands.
Antonio Filosa continues reshaping Stellantis
Antonio Filosa became Stellantis CEO in July 2025 and has continued making leadership changes across the company.
Before becoming CEO, Filosa led several important divisions within Stellantis, including:
- Jeep
- North America operations
- South America operations
After taking over as CEO, Filosa introduced a new executive leadership team with the goal of making Stellantis one of the strongest automotive companies during the industry’s next phase of growth.
The company has also shared ambitious targets for 2030, including:
| Target | Goal by 2030 |
|---|---|
| Vehicle volume | Increase by 35% |
| Revenue | Increase by 25% |
Why these appointments matter
The leadership changes come as Stellantis works to improve its performance in North America.
Recent sales figures show mixed results:
| Brand | Latest Sales Performance |
|---|---|
| Ram | Up 11% |
| Jeep | Down 5% |
The company expects several upcoming product launches to support future growth.
Key models arriving during the second half of the year include:
- Jeep Cherokee Hybrid
- Ram 1500 SRT TRX
These launches are expected to help improve both sales volume and revenue across the North American market.
What this means for Jeep and Ram
Leadership changes often signal a new direction, especially when sales performance differs across brands. Ram has recently shown positive momentum, while Jeep faces the challenge of reversing declining sales.
With Matt VanDyke focusing on Ram and Branden Coté preparing to lead Jeep, Stellantis is putting experienced automotive executives in charge of two of its most important brands. Their leadership, combined with upcoming vehicle launches, will play an important role in determining whether Stellantis can meet its growth ambitions in North America over the coming years.
Sources & References
1. Stellantis Official Press Release
https://www.stellantis.com/en/news/press-releases/2026/july/stellantis-announces-appointments-of-veteran-industry-executives-to-lead-ram-and-jeep-brands
Official announcement confirming the appointments of Matt VanDyke as Ram CEO and Branden Coté as Jeep CEO.
2. Stellantis Leadership Team
https://www.stellantis.com/en/company/governance/stellantis-leadership-team
Official information about Antonio Filosa and the Stellantis executive leadership team.
3. Stellantis Newsroom
https://www.stellantis.com/en/news/press-releases
Official source for Stellantis press releases, product announcements, and corporate updates.
4. Road & Track
https://www.roadandtrack.com/news/a73193198/jeep-ram-receive-new-ceos-in-latest-stellantis-shake-up/
US automotive publication covering the latest Jeep and Ram leadership changes.
5. Reuters Automotive News
https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/
Trusted global news source for automotive industry updates, financial news, and Stellantis coverage.
6. Automotive News
https://www.autonews.com/
Leading North American automotive publication covering vehicle sales, executive appointments, and industry trends.
