Simon Sproule, chief communications officer at Fiat Chrysler Automobiles based in Auburn Hills, is leaving the job he began Feb. 3.
He resigned and has made the personal decision to step away from the auto industry, according to a source close to the situation. His last day is Friday.
The company said in a statement, “Simon Sproule has made the personal decision to leave FCA. Shawn Morgan will replace him on an ad interim basis for North America. We wish Simon the best in his future endeavors.”
The man known to be kind and highly qualified may be re-examining his life path during this pandemic, a colleague said.
Now is a dynamic time of transition for the Italian-American Fiat Chrysler, which is facing an antitrust probe involving vans, related to the merger with the French Peugeot maker PSA Group.
To some, Fiat Chrysler has been trying to shape its global messaging amid the merger and its potential benefit for consumers, the industry and shareholders. The merger creates uncertainty for both companies and its leadership as they seek a single voice.
Morgan, 51, is currently head of corporate communications for Fiat Chrysler in North America, where she has worked 22 years. A Michigan State University graduate, she earned a Bachelor of Arts in communications and now serves as a senior fellow on the alumni board of the school’s College of Communication Arts and Sciences.
In recent years, Morgan has led the company’s corporate external communications in North America as well as executive speechwriting and FCA web site presence.
Executing the merger during a pandemic has challenges, and markets where Fiat Chrysler has been strong were hard hit by the coronavirus shutdown — especially Italy, Brazil and the U.S.
In the U.S., Fiat Chrysler has had the most deaths of hourly employees diagnosed wtih COVID-19, as confirmed by the UAW.
FCA is led by CEO Michael Manley, who took the helm after the sudden death of legendary CEO Sergio Marchionne in 2018. The company is highly competitive in North America with its Ram Trucks and Jeep products. Jeep is expected to face a challenge in its off-road segment from the upcoming Ford Bronco.
The company has lagged in electrification and autonomous technology, compared with its competitors. Meanwhile, the European Union is reviewing the merger and then there’s an ongoing criminal investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice related to the UAW corruption scandal.
Ford roots
Sproule, who came to FCA after five years as vice president and chief marketing officer at Aston Martin Lagonda, oversaw Fiat Chrysler’s brand licensing and partnership initiatives, according to the company website.
In 2014, he served as vice president of communications at Tesla Motors. Prior to that, he was corporate vice president for global marketing for Nissan Motor and Renault-Nissan Alliance, Nissan North America. He served as vice president, communications, for Aston Martin Jaguar Land Rover North America from 2000-03.
Sproule began his career in public affairs with Ford Europe in 1992.
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He earned a Bachelor of Science in geography from King’s College, University of London.
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