Haitian-American Ralph Gilles styled the North American Car of the Year-winning 2005 Chrysler 300 & 2014 SRT Dodge Viper
Gilles has earned numerous academic and industry awards
Ralph Gilles was appointed chief design officer for the Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep®, Ram, Maserati and Fiat (Latin America) brands in January 2021. He is also a member of Stellantis’ Top Executive Team. He is responsible for shaping and directing design across the brand’s portfolio as it moves toward electrification.
He is extremely active inside and outside of the company. Gilles serves as the executive sponsor of the Stellantis African Ancestry Network Diaspora (STAAND) in addition to playing a supporting role with the Stellantis Global Diversity Council. At his alma mater, College for Creative Studies (CCS) in Detroit, Gilles serves as a member of the CCS board of trustees.
Automotive Hall of Fame Young Leadership & Excellence Award Winner
An avid car enthusiast who enjoys spending time at the track, go-karting and watching Formula 1 auto racing, Gilles has participated in the Targa Newfoundland Rally, the Car and Driver One Lap of America and the SRT Viper Cup Series. In addition, he frequently serves as a judge at various Concours d’Elegance events across the country, including Pebble Beach and Amelia Island, as well as the EyesOn Design car show.
Gilles has earned numerous academic and industry awards, including the Michigan State University Eli Broad Graduate School of Management Young Alumni Achievement Award, Automotive Hall of Fame Young Leadership & Excellence Award, NV Magazine Innovation Award, Black Engineer of the Year President’s Award and N’Digo Foundation N’Design Award.
An Outstanding Automotive Career
Since first joining the company in 1992 as a designer, Gilles has put his extensive academic background in industrial design and business administration to use, holding various positions within the company, including since 2000:
2021, Chief Design Officer, Stellantis
2015, Head of Design, GEC, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V.
2011, President and CEO – Dodge/SRT and Motorsports, FCA US LLC
2009, President and CEO – Dodge Brand
2009, Senior Vice President – Product Design, FCA – North America
2008, Vice President – Design, Chrysler LLC
2006, Vice President – Jeep/Truck, Color and Trim Studios
2005, Director – Truck Exterior/Interior Design Studio
2001, Director – Design Office, Large Car Studio, Family Vehicles
Gilles holds a Master of Business Administration from Michigan State University (2002) and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in industrial design from the College for Creative Studies in Detroit (1992). Gilles was born in New York.
