Ralph Gilles

Ralph Victor Gilles (French pronunciation: [ʒij]; born 14 January 1970) is a Canadian-American automobile designer and executive. In 1992, he joined Chrysler. Gilles styled the North American Car of the Year-winning 2005 Chrysler 300. [1] Gilles also led the design team that created the 2013 SRT Dodge Viper. [2] Gilles was the President and CEO of Chrysler's SRT brand and Senior Vice President of Design at Chrysler before being promoted to Head of Design for Fiat Chrysler Automobiles in April 2015. Following FCA's merger into the Stellantis group in 2021, he became chief design officer of the newly merged company.[3]

Background

Born in New York City to Haitian immigrants, Gilles was raised in Montreal, Quebec.[4] Gilles was drawing concept vehicles at the age of eight. When he was fourteen years old, his aunt Gisele Mouscardy sent one of his sketches to then Chrysler chairman Lee Iacocca.[5] A reply came from K. Neil Walling, Chrysler's design chief at the time, suggesting he attend one of three design schools.[6]

He lives in Oxford, Michigan.[7]

Education

He studied at Vanier College in Montreal, before moving back to the United States for university studies.[8] Gilles attended the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, Michigan, and in 2002 received an Executive MBA from Michigan State University.[9]

Career

In 1992, he joined Chrysler. In August of 2008, Gilles replaced the retiring Trevor Creed as Senior Vice President of Design.[9][10] In October 2009, Gilles was promoted to president and CEO of the Dodge car brand. He was replaced as Dodge's CEO in June 2011, remaining Senior Vice President of Design and becoming CEO of Chrysler's Street and Racing Technology division.[11]

Gilles was profiled in the first season of the Netflix docu-series Abstract: The Art of Design.[12]

References
  1. "Executive bios: Ralph V. Gilles". chrysler.com. Retrieved 21 March 2011.
  2. "Designer Ralph Gilles on the 2013 SRT Viper". popularmechanics.com. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  3. "Profile: Ralph V Gilles, Chief Design Officer, Stellantis NV". Bloomberg.
  4. Watson, Thomas (2006-09-22). "The cult of Ralph: Chrysler's Ralph Gilles". Canadian Business. Retrieved 24 February 2012.
  5. "The cult of Ralph: Chrysler's Ralph Gilles". Canadian Business, Sep 22, 2006 Thomas Watson.
  6. I owe my career to a letter from Chrysler, 2016-02-25, retrieved 26 February 2017
  7. "Fundraiser Dinner Dance | Event Details | Automation Alley". Archived from the original on 2014-11-03. Retrieved 2012-10-19.
  8. Webster, Sarah. "FROM SLACKER TO SUPERSTAR: Gilles is new darling of automotive design world". Vanier College. Vanier College. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  9. "Gilles, Ralph V." (PDF). Chrysler Executive Bio. Chrysler. Retrieved 24 February 2012.
  10. "Chrysler Head Designer Is Latest to Leave Firm". Wall Street Journal. 19 August 2008. p. B4. Retrieved 21 March 2011.
  11. Healey, James R. (June 8, 2011). "Fiat shuffles Chrysler hats: Design chief/Dodge CEO Gilles to run SRT". USA Today. Retrieved June 10, 2011.
  12. "Netflix launches new documentary series Abstract: The Art of Design with a stellar lineup".
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