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FCA South Africa has announced the appointment of a regional automotive industry veteran, Graham Eagle, as its new CEO, who arrives with more than forty years’ sector experience to his name and following on from a seventeen-year stint with Honda in the country.

Juan Wheeler has arrived at FCA SA to fill the role of Chief Financial Officer. He has served in various regions within Ford Motor Company for the last 20 years including South Africa, South East Asia and the Middle East.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) South Africa has announced the appointment of a regional automotive industry veteran, Graham Eagle, as its new CEO, who arrives with more than forty years’ sector experience to his name and following on from a seventeen-year stint with Honda in the country.

Eagle’s arrival follows the recent resignation of Robin van Rensburg who departed from the company last Thursday (26 July) to pursue other opportunities.

Under his leadership, FCA South Africa completed its transition into a single trading entity as part of the global merger of the Fiat and Chrysler businesses.

Eagle joins FCA with over 40 years' experience in the automotive industry to continue building the efficiencies and benefits for customers, dealers and partners.

Having gained invaluable experience working with the Nissan Group of Companies and Honda Motor Southern Africa, Eagle is not a stranger to the Fiat brand, being one of the instrumental players in the introduction of the Fiat Uno into the South African market.

Eagle's career started with the Nissan Group of Companies as a Project Engineer. He left Nissan in 2001 to join Honda Motors Southern Africa in the role of Divisional Manager for Automobiles, a position that he held for four years before taking on the role of General Manager Sales & Marketing.

In 2009 Eagle was promoted to the Director of Sales & Marketing, and four years ago he was appointed as the Director of Operations.

In April of 2016, and at the request of Honda Japan, he delayed his retirement beyond the company's mandatory retirement age, taking on the role as Vice President for Southern Africa operations. He completed an additional two years in this role, assisting the implementation of plans to build profitability, an objective reached earlier this year.

Eagle's motor industry experience will clearly be of major benefit to FCA, internally, to the dealer network, and extended supplier base to ultimately benefit customers. He is an active member in many industry forums and has a strong track record of achievement and success.

"I am excited to be joining the FCA family and I look forward to sharing my knowledge and experience in the FCA environment, elevating the brands to greater heights," says Eagle.

The appointment of the new CEO comes at the end of a week that has seen a flurry of changes with Juan Wheeler arriving at FCA SA to fill the role of Chief Financial Officer and Daniell Theron being appointed as Head of Network Development.

Wheeler officially joined the company on 16 July and has served in various regions within Ford Motor Company for the last 20 years including South Africa, South East Asia and the Middle East.

Wheeler has extensive experience in financial planning and analysis, strategic planning, financial controls, sales analysis and operational costs control. He also has in-depth global experience, after completing assignments in Bangkok, Shanghai, Jakarta, Hanoi and Dubai.

“I am extremely excited to join the FCA Group, to support and align with the group’s strategy providing service excellence in my tenure,” said Wheeler.

In addition, FCA SA appointed Theron as Head of Network Development for FCA SA. His career started in 2008 as Customer Services Finance Manager at Jaguar Land Rover SA, where he was later promoted to Volume Planning and Distribution Manager in 2015.

Theron joined FCA in January 2017 as Commercial Manager Parts & Accessories, where he was responsible for the aftersales dealer purchase and sales objectives, and the commercial aspects of MOPAR, including parts pricing and positioning.
FCA South Africa has a dealer network in South Africa responsible for the sales and service of all FCA brands, whilst also having representation in 7 countries within the East African territory.

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