Stellantis $STLA ( ▼ 6.05% ) has appointed Tim Kuniskis to lead all of Stellantis’ American brands—in a power move that also includes the revival of the iconic SRT Performance Division.
The details: The announcement (which comes less than eight months after Kuniskis returned to Stellantis to lead Ram as CEO) puts the Detroit auto veteran in charge of steering the most pivotal aspects of Stellantis’ U.S. operations.
As the lead for Stellantis’ American brands, Kuniskis will head North America marketing and retail strategy for Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram.
He will report directly to Antonio Filosa, Stellantis CEO and chief operating officer, North America & American brands.
Kuniskis retains his role as CEO of Ram—with each of the current brand CEOs continuing to lead their respective brands.
Kuniskis will also lead the return of SRT, which will unify high-performance engineering across Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram under a single, dedicated identity—a move that the newly appointed American Brands lead described as, “getting the band back together.”
What they’re saying: “Connecting with our customers, delivering the products and experiences they want, is critical to reaching our full potential. Tim has proven time and time again that he is masterful at building brands that reach the heart and soul of the customer. We will leverage his energy, his strategic mindset and his competitive spirit to supercharge all our brand activities,” stated Antonio Filosa, CEO of Stellantis.
Why it matters: The move to make Kuniskis head of marketing and retail strategy for Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram should be a huge morale booster to the CDJR dealer body, given the Ram CEO’s strong relationship with Stellantis dealers and his no-bull approach to getting things done.
Between the lines: Kuniskis’ appointment as head of North America marketing and retail strategy comes at a critical juncture for Stellantis, as it pushes to regain market share in the U.S. with its American brands
Stellantis’ Q2 sales dropped 10% compared to second quarter sales in 2024—with Dodge sales falling 48% and Chrysler sales slipping 42%.
Jeep and Ram sales ticked up 1% and 5%, respectively, in the second quarter of 2025 compared to last year’s second quarter sales.
Something else to ponder: Dodge’s sales decline has been heavily attributed to the lackluster sales of the Charger Daytona EV—that, when launched, was touted as a key component of Dodge’s transition to electrification from gas-powered models like the popular SRT Hellcat, which Kuniskis helped bring to life.
Could the revival of the SRT division signal the return of the Hellcat? Well, if Kuniskis’ recent announcement that Ram is adding a Hemi back into its powertrain lineup is any indication of what to expect, a new Hellcat or comparable Charger model powered by a V8 engine could already be in the works.
Bottom line: Stellantis is betting big on proven leadership and brand passion by putting Tim Kuniskis in charge of its American brands and reviving the SRT performance division—signaling a bold, performance-driven push to reconnect with U.S. customers, rally dealers, and reverse declining sales, especially as electrified models like the Charger Daytona EV struggle to gain traction.
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