Automaker Stellantis hired Branden Cote as Jeep chief executive, picking a former AutoNation executive to steer one of the group's flagship brands through a plan to renew its model lineup and boost sales.

Cote joins Stellantis alongside Matt VanDyke, a former Ford Motor executive who was named new head of the Ram brand, the company said Monday.

With the appointments, the automaker puts a pair of industry veterans in charge of two of its key brands, which will get the bulk of product investments under Chief Executive Antonio Filosa's revival plan outlined earlier this year to reverse years of market-share losses.

Stellantis said Cote would replace Bob Broderdorf, who is taking medical leave. Cote has worked at both carmakers and dealerships over the past two decades. Most recently, he was brand president at dealership chain AutoNation, and worked at Aston Martin, Mercedes-Benz and other companies before that, Stellantis said.

Broderdorf, who was named Jeep's head in February last year, will assume a new leadership role within the company upon his return, Stellantis said.

The group said it also appointed VanDyke, who spent two decades at Ford before moving to digital-marketing firm Shift Digital, to succeed Tim Kuniskis as Ram CEO. Kuniskis became head of Stellantis's North American brands in July last year while continuing to lead the Ram brand.

VanDyke's appointment is effective as of Monday, while Cote's will be effective on Aug. 3, the company said.

Jeep and Ram, along with France's Peugeot and Italy's Fiat, form the group of four key brands into which Stellantis plans to invest 70% of Filosa's $70 billion turnaround program, with plans to launch more-affordable new cars in the U.S. to drive sales higher.

The company earlier this month credited new model launches in North America for an estimated 10% increase in second-quarter vehicle shipments, as it seeks to leave behind issues that hampered it in recent years. Stellantis booked a hefty net loss last year due to write-downs on its electric-vehicle investments, months after naming Filosa as CEO following the departure of former boss Carlos Tavares in late 2024 amid plunging sales and earnings.

Write to Najat Kantouar at najat.kantouar@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

July 20, 2026 11:39 ET (15:39 GMT)

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