STELLANTIS has promoted its head of communications for India and Asia Pacific, Lucy McLellan, to global head of marketing and communications for the Jeep brand based in Auburn Hills, Michigan.

Ms McLellan, who joined Stellantis’ predecessor, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles Australia, in 2012 after communications roles with BMW Group Australia, takes up her position in the US at the end of next month.

She will report directly to Jeep CEO Christian Meunier.

She told GoAutoNews that the offer for the position was exciting and aligned with her strong attraction to the brand.

“Jeep is Stellantis’ most global brand. It’s also a specialty brand – with respect to its capability – which is rare among the mainstream set,” she said.

“Jeep has a true lifestyle element that is also unrivalled, especially in the US, but growing in other markets.

“For me, it’s unique. Jeep is an emotional brand enabling customers to be part of a proud community – and that’s pretty special.”

Ms McLellan said her role was to bring a global perspective to the Jeep brand and she would build a global marketing team to ensure it communicated successfully with the nuances of each market.

She said her previous role covered 20 markets for Stellantis’ 14 brands, which gave her a strong national and regional perspective for sales and marketing.

Ms McLellan has been replaced as director of communications for the India and Asia Pacific (IAP) region by Chris Keeffe, who will be based in Tokyo.

He joins Stellantis from Nissan Motor Company, where he most recently held the position of deputy general manager of global communication strategy and planning.

Stellantis said that at Nissan he held several senior communications positions, including lead for corporate and product communications in India and directing corporate communications for Nissan North America. He also has experience within the Africa and Middle East regions.

Mr Keeffe, a Canadian citizen, will lead the communications function and report to Carl Smiley, COO of the IAP region, and functionally to Bertrand Blaise, the chief communications and CSR officer at Stellantis.

He will be responsible for overseeing all external and internal communications, product launch strategies, media relations and executive communications across India, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea and South-East Asia markets.

Stellantis IAP region COO Carl Smiley said: “As a dynamic, experienced leader in communications strategy and execution across the region, Chris is an exciting appointment to Stellantis.

“With a passion for electrification and technology, Chris is ideally placed to help realise our global Dare Forward ambitions in the region.”

Cassie Whelan will now report to Mr Keeffe in her capacity as head of communications for South-East Asia, overseeing 20 ASEAN and general distributor markets within the IAP region, including Australia and New Zealand.

By Neil Dowling