PORTLAND, Ore. — Freightliner LLC has unveiled a new management structure it says will enable more focused decision-making, stronger control over costs and transactions and enhanced customer focus.

“Our new organization is designed to achieve the materials cost savings, production savings, overhead reductions and business model improvements set forth in our turnaround plan, and to return Freightliner to profitability and sustained financial performance,” says Rainer Schmueckle, president and chief executive officer, Freightliner LLC.

As part of the management restructuring, Freightliner is announcing numerous personnel appointments. The appointments include two new executive committee members, other key managers:

Dr. Juergen Kritschgau has been named senior vice-president, finance and controlling for Freightliner LLC, effective Feb. 1. Kritschgau succeeds Dr. Udo Schnell, who will assume new responsibilities as the chief executive officer of Mercedes-Benz Lenkungen GmbH, the Duesseldorf-based steering gear subsidiary of DaimlerChrysler AG.

Chris Patterson has been appointed senior vice-president, parts and service, Freightliner LLC, effective Jan. 7. Patterson will be responsible for all parts sales, customer support and aftermarket programs for Freightliner LLC business units. He will be a member of Freightliner’s executive committee and report directly to Schmueckle. Patterson has 23 years trucking industry experience and spent five years with Freightliner in the 1990s, serving as president of Freightliner of Canada and senior vice-president, sales and marketing, Freightliner Trucks.

Bob Cariglia has been named vice-president of sales, for Freightliner Trucks. In this position, Cariglia is responsible for overseeing Freightliner’s U.S. and Canada heavy- and medium-duty truck sales initiatives. He reports to Mark Lampert, senior vice-president, sales and marketing, Freightliner Trucks.

Carsten Reinhardt has been named manager of the Portland truck and parts manufacturing plants, effective June 2002. Reinhardt is currently serving as general manager, manufacturing operations, for Western Star Trucks in Kelowna and will manage the transition of Western Star manufacturing operations to Portland, Ore.

Bruce Smalley will fill the new position of general manager, marketing and strategy. In this job, he will manage marketing for the Freightliner Trucks brand and marketing strategy for all brands. Smalley was formerly manager, DaimlerChrysler Components for Freightliner.

Reid Bigland has been named general manager of dealer operations, Freightliner LLC. In this position, he will be responsible for growing and strengthening the distribution networks of all Freightliner LLC brands. Bigland most recently served as director, vocational sales for Sterling Trucks.

“In addition to pursuing Freightliner’s turnaround objectives, our new organization is intended to ensure the strength and distinctiveness of our brands and to deliver excellent product quality and strong customer support for years to come,” adds Schmueckle.

“We also thank our many long-service managers who are retiring. These employees were instrumental in building Freightliner over the last decades and we are grateful for their many contributions.”