Saad Chehab '92, is named president and chief executive officer - Chrysler Brand, Chrysler Group LLC

Saad Chehab ’92

Saad Chehab ’92, was appointed president and CEO of the Chrysler Brand at Chrysler Group LLC in September 2011. Chehab, who was born in Beirut, Lebanon, was also named a member of the Group Executive Council (GEC) for Fiat S.p.A. and appointed Head of Lancia and Chrysler Brands on Sept. 1, 2011. The Group Executive Council (GEC) is the highest executive decision making body within Fiat outside of its Board of Directors. It is responsible for reviewing the operating performance of the businesses, setting performance targets, making key strategic decisions and investments for the Group and sharing best practices, including the development and deployment of key human resources.

Prior to these appointments, he was the director of Advertising and Brand Marketing at Chrysler Group LLC, where he was responsible for overseeing advertising strategy and brand marketing program coordination for each of the company’s brands.

Chehab joined the company from Ford Motor Company, where he was the director of Creative Services. While at Ford, he managed and implemented worldwide brand strategies focused on global alignment, efficiency and brand enhancement resulting in comprehensive brand tools with better brand distinction and solutions. Prior to this, he was a senior design manager at Nudell Architects and an architectural planner at JPRA Architects.

Other alumni updates:

John Alexander '86, was promoted to associate professor and granted tenure at the University of Texas at San Antonio. He was also granted a Regent's Outstanding Teaching Award.

Jana Cephas '05, was named Critical Studies Fellow at Cranbrook Academy of Art for 2011-12.

Hamilton Anderson Associates, the firm of Rainy Hamilton Jr. ’79, was commissioned by the Detroit / Wayne County Port Authority to design a new 22,000 square foot international ship passenger terminal. The facility opened in July at the foot of Bates Street, between Atwater Street and the Detroit River. According to the Hamilton Anderson blog, rogueHAA, the Port Authority Terminal is designed to function as both a domestic and international facility, including associated functions such as customs, border patrol, baggage handling, ticketing, and queuing. The building and dock will accommodate Great Lakes cruise ships, tall ships, and other large vessels, as well as the offices for the Port Authority.  Read more.

Detroit / Wayne County Port Authority

Michael (Mickey) Jacob '82, FAIA, was elected as the American Institute of Architect's national first vice president for 2012 / president elect for 2013.

A film by Dean Storm '11, summarizing his thesis project, was selected as a finalist for the "Drivers of Change" exhibition in London sponsored by ARUP and the Bartlett School of Architecture. His film was featured in the exhibition.

James Timberlake ‘74, was nominated by President Obama to be a member of the Board of Directors of the National Institute of Building Sciences.