Pablo Rosso named CEO of Chrysler Korea

Pablo Rosso Chrysler Korea CEO

By Kim Tae-jong

Chrysler Korea said Friday that Pablo Rosso has been appointed as its new CEO. He previously served as India Commercial Area Manager of the Fiat Chrysler Group.

“We expect the new CEO to lead the steady growth of Chrysler on the local market and the successful re-launching of Fiat,” an official from the firm said.

The import and sale of Fiat vehicles will be handled by Chrysler Korea, as the America-based automaker is now owned by Fiat after its bankruptcy in June 2009.

Italian auto giant Fiat will reenter the Korean market with the launch of its hit compact car Fiat 500 as its first model next year.

Fiat left the Korean market when its local manufacturing partner Kia Motors went bankrupt during the 1997-98 Asia financial crisis.

It attempted to reenter Korea in 2008 but withdrew because the timing was not appropriate given that the global financial crisis was at its peak.

Rosso’s relationship with Fiat began when he worked as a logistics engineer at Iveco, an Italian industrial vehicle and bus manufacturing company controlled by the Fiat Industrial Group, in 1998.

He was later reassigned in 2003 to lead the sales and marketing of Fiat cars under its sub-brands such as Alfa Romeo and Lancia in overseas markets.

Thanks to his achievements, he was named a managing director at its Indian affiliate in April, 2011.

“First of all, I’m happy to lead the Chrysler Korea, and it is such an honor. I feel a thrill to think of the various challenges ahead such as the launching of Fiat next year,” Rosso said in a statement. “Based on the partnership of Fiat and Chrysler, I will do my best to make a contribution to the Korean automobile market by providing improved products and services and strengthening networks along with executives and employees at Chrysler Korea.”