Press and Toyota no longer on speaking terms?

The Chrysler Group is still massaging its upper echelon management since the American brand and Benz went their separate ways.

In the latest move, the Chrysler Group has secured the services of former COO of Toyota's North American operation, James E. Press.

Press joins the company hot on the heels of another new recruit, Robert Nardelli and will form one leg of Chrysler's new management triumvirate — CEO Nardelli, Tom LaSorda,  and Press.

Press and LaSorda report to Nardelli, with LaSorda remaining in charge of Manufacturing, Procurement and Supply, Employee Relations and Global Business Development and Alliances.

Press will assume responsibility for North American Sales, International Sales, Global Marketing, Product Strategy, and Service and Parts.

During his 37 years spent at Toyota, he was also a director of the parent company and both the company's first non-Japanese president in North America and the first non-Japanese executive appointed to TMC's board of directors. Toyota's 15 manufacturing plants in North America were under his control. His defection to Chrysler will bring with it significant marketing expertise from the Japanese company.

Nardelli noted Press's contribution to Toyota's success in the North American market when he commented "Tom LaSorda and I are thrilled that one of the most successful executives in the history of the auto industry has joined our leadership team at the New Chrysler.

"Our top team now consists of a world-class 'supply' leader in Tom and an equally world-class 'demand' leader in Jim."