During Eric Ridenour's 23 years with Chrysler, he saw the company through many of its highest highs and lowest lows -- not to mention two owners and five CEOs.
But Ridenour, Chrysler's COO, won't be part of the next chapter of Chrysler's history. That began today when Cerberus Capital Management LP took over.
Chrysler said Ridenour has left the automaker to pursue other interests. His position will not be filled.
An engineer who rose through the management ranks, Ridenour, 48, was instrumental in the development of some of Chrysler's hottest products in the last five years.
He was director of powertrain planning in 1998 when work began on the new generation of modern Hemi V-8 engines.
In 2000, as director of product planning and then vice president of Chrysler's Premium Vehicle Product Team, Ridenour worked with former Chrysler COO Wolfgang Bernhard on the Chrysler 300 sports sedan and Dodge Magnum wagon.
Ridenour also helped devise Chrysler's current recovery plan -- which new CEO Bob Nardelli and President Tom LaSorda said today will still guide the automaker.
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