New challenge: Liam Price is preparing to relocate from North America to Melbourne as FCA Australia’s new corporate communications manager.

FCA Australia has turned to its North American parent company for the appointment of a new corporate communications manager, securing Liam Price to fill the vacancy created in the department when Glenn Butler stepped up in April from senior manager to director.

As previously reported, former director of corporate communications Lucy McLellan has taken on a newly created position at FCA as the head of PR and communications for the Asia-Pacific region and head of corporate communications – Australia.

Mr Price is due to arrive in Australia early next month, focusing on media relations and product communications for Italian brands Fiat and Alfa Romeo, as well as American brands Jeep and Chrysler.

Isabelle Laming

He has spent the past year as communications manager for FCA Canada based in Windsor, Ontario – right on the bank of the Detroit River and about a 40-minute drive to FCA’s US headquarters in Auburn Hills, Michigan, where he previously spent about 18 months working in international communications.

This was his first position after graduating in 2015 with a Bachelor of Arts (H) in communication, media and film from the University of Windsor.

In other local automotive PR news, BMW Group Australia has appointed Isabelle Laming as its new press fleet co-ordinator.

Ms Laming has moved from Porsche Cars Australia, where she spent about a year working as graduate/intern in the public relations department.

By Terry Martin