Stellantis has just announced a big move on the design front — veteran designer Scott Krugger has been appointed as the new Head of North America Design. The role is brand new and puts Krugger in charge of shaping the creative direction and design strategy for four of the most iconic American brands under the Stellantis umbrella: Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep®, and Ram.
Krugger, who will report directly to North America COO and Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa, is no stranger to the company or its products. He’s been with the automaker since 2001 and has worked on some of its most recognizable vehicles. That includes everything from the PT Cruiser to the Chrysler Pacifica, Alfa Romeo Tonale, Dodge Charger, and the Ram 1500. But what he’s probably best known for among enthusiasts is leading the exterior design of the fifth-generation Dodge Viper — a car that still gets hearts racing.
Before stepping into his new position, Krugger most recently led exterior design for Dodge and Dodge//SRT cars and SUVs in North America. He also spent five years heading design for Alfa Romeo, Jeep, and user experience (UX) at Stellantis’ Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) design studio.
The announcement comes as Stellantis begins rolling out a new global design structure led by Chief Design Officer Ralph Gilles, a name well known across the industry. Under this new setup, Gilles will focus on global strategy and innovation, while design leaders like Krugger and newly appointed Head of European Design Gilles Vidal will manage regional execution with a focus on meeting local customer tastes and expectations.
“Scott’s appointment in North America and Gilles’ arrival in Europe are key to our new design organization and to our plans to bring inspiring and exciting products to the North American and European markets, giving customers an even greater freedom of choice,” said Ralph Gilles. “With Scott’s immense design talent and proven leadership in North America and Gilles’ award-winning track record in Europe, we are opening a new chapter of creative excellence with the roll out of our organization.”
What makes this change significant is how it balances global vision with local execution. While Stellantis oversees 14 vehicle brands globally, this new structure allows for regional design teams to retain creative autonomy — a move that should help Dodge stay bold, Jeep remain rugged, Ram keep its edge, and Chrysler hopefully find its future voice.
Krugger has already proven his ability to blend American muscle, utility, and innovation over the past two decades. With this new leadership role, he now gets the opportunity to leave his mark across an even wider canvas of vehicles. And for Mopar fans, that’s something worth watching.
5 replies
Loading new replies...
Join the full discussion at the Mopar Insiders Forum →