The formation of the Stellantis group, which consists of the former PSA and FCA automotive companies, has brought about changes to the design leadership team. Under the new operation, Ralph Gilles, a veteran Chrysler designer most recently Head of Global Design for FCA’s brands, will now oversee the operation in the Americas (as well as Maserati) while Jean Pierre Ploué looks over the European brands in the vast product portfolio.
Gilles has had an extensive background in automotive design, brand operations and business operations since joining the Chrysler Corporation in 1992. In 2015, he was appointed Global Head of Design and named a member of the Group Executive Council (GEC). He also leads the FCA North America Product Design Office, a position he was named to in June 2009. He has now been appointed Chief Design Officer for Stellantis in the Americas, leading Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Maserati, and Fiat Latin America brands.
Instrumental to numerous vehicle programs across FCA’s brands, Gilles was named Vice President of Interior Design for Jeep/Truck and Specialty Vehicles in 2006 following the successes of vehicles such as the Grand Cherokee. He has also served as President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Motorsports; President and CEO of the SRT Brand and President and CEO of the Dodge Brand and became Vice President of Design for FCA US LLC in September 2008.
Besides his day job running the FCA Design Office, Gilles is active in the design community in Michigan. He serves on the board of McLaren Oakland in Pontiac and is on the Board of Trustees and the Capital Committee at the College for Creative Studies (CCS) in Detroit, his alma mater. He has earned numerous academic and industry awards and holds a master of business administration from Michigan State University and a bachelor of fine arts in Industrial Design from CCS.
