On the Dash:
- New leadership at Jeep and Ram could influence product strategy, marketing and dealer engagement.
- VanDyke’s marketing background and Coté’s retail experience may shape future sales and customer initiatives.
- The appointments signal Stellantis’ continued effort to strengthen its North American operations under CEO Antonio Filosa.
Stellantis has named two veteran automotive executives to lead its Ram and Jeep brands, the company announced Monday.
The automaker appointed Matt VanDyke CEO of the Ram brand, effective July 20, succeeding Tim Kuniskis, who added the Ram role last year while also taking on North American Marketing and Retail Strategy. Stellantis also appointed Branden Coté CEO of the Jeep brand, effective August 3, succeeding Bob Broderdorf, who has led Jeep since February 2025 and is taking medical leave. Both executives will report to Kuniskis.
The appointments are part of CEO Antonio Filosa’s strategy to strengthen the company’s leadership team. Kuniskis, Head of American Brands, North America Marketing and Retail Strategy, said in the company’s media release, “Matt and Branden are proven leaders who will build on our successes and take these iconic American brands to the next level.”
Notably, VanDyke most recently served as President of Shift Digital, an automotive digital marketing company. He also served as CEO of FordDirect and held marketing leadership roles at Ford and Lincoln.
Meanwhile, Coté joins Jeep after serving as Brand President at AutoNation. He has also held leadership roles at Aston Martin, Canoo, Mercedes-AMG, and Mercedes-Benz USA. However, Broderdorf is expected to return to a new leadership position within Stellantis once his leave ends.
The automaker notes that both executives bring extensive experience in OEM, retail, and automotive marketing. The company stated that these appointments reinforce its customer-focused strategy and long-term growth plans for two of its largest brands in the U.S.
