Fiat (Fix It Again, Tony) and Chrysler in a Marriage of Convenience
Chrysler CEO Bob Nardelli and I share a birthday, but there the similarity ends. We were both born under the astrological sign of Taurus and the irony is not lost that this distinction may put us closer to Ford than either Chrysler or Opinion. Those of us born under this sign are said to be dedicated, determined and disciplined, reliable, patient and tenacious. Somewhere in there is stubborn, but not to worry, that’s a trademark of the auto industry in general.
Nardelli is a tough guy, but he’s been a top gun (GE) or CEO (Home Depot) at ever weaker companies over his career, always landing on his feet after being let go with one of those cash-rich parachutes.
Light bulbs, the two by fours and now cars—is there an end to all this somewhere and is it a happy ending?
Enter potential merger partner Sergio Marchionne, FIAT Group CEO and brand new 35% suitor of Chrysler. Daimler Benz couldn’t make a similar marriage work, but then they had an already large U.S. presence and not much upon whic…