Former Chrysler chief LaSorda joins Fisker

Former Chrysler CEO Tom LaSorda will join Fisker Automotive as vice chairman, in the plug-in hybrid maker's second signing of an ex-Detroit 3 executive this week.

CEO Henrik Fisker said LaSorda's position will include a day-to-day executive advisory role, as the fledgling automaker ramps up production of the Karma sedan at its Wilmington, Del., factory over the coming year.

LaSorda will be chairman of the company's strategy council.

"This is a huge coup for us," Fisker said in an interview. "Tom is going to be a bit more hands-on than you would expect of a board member. He understands what it takes to be a high-volume manufacturer."

On Wednesday, Fisker named former Ford Motor Co. executive Richard Beattie to its top global sales and marketing position.

LaSorda, 57, is a former CEO, president and vice chairman of Chrysler Group.

Before joining Chrysler in 2000 as executive vice president for manufacturing, he spent 23 years at General Motors, primarily in manufacturing.

He was named COO of Chrysler in 2004, and CEO in 2005.

The Fisker board has also been expanded to include Mindy Grossman, Scott Sandell and Timothy Shriver.

Grossman is CEO of Home Shopping Network. Sandell is general partner of New Enterprise Associates, a venture capital firm with ties to China. Shriver is an entrepreneur, film producer and CEO of the Special Olympics.

Source: Automotive News

By Mark Rechtin- Automotive News