WINDSOR, Ont. — Global automotive and commercial vehicle giant DaimlerChrysler has appointed truck manufacturing executive Reid Bigland as president and CEO of its Canadian subsidiary.

Bigland joins Windsor, Ont.-based DaimlerChrysler Canada, after stints as president of Freightliner Custom Chassis Corp. in South Carolina and previously Western Star Trucks, before the truckmaker was bought by DaimlerChrysler and moved from Bigland’s native Kamloops, B.C. to Portland, Ore.

Bigland will replace Steven Landry, who was promoted to a senior position at Chrysler Group in the U.S. Landry remains chairman of DaimlerChrysler Canada and will oversee the strategic direction of the company.

“Reid Bigland’s 18 years of experience in the Canadian and U.S. transportation business, including management positions in sales, dealer operations and labour operations, lines up well with the opportunities and challenges facing DaimlerChrysler Canada,” said Joe Eberhardt, Chrysler Group vice-president of global sales, said in a press release.

DaimlerChrysler is Canada’s third-biggest automaker. In North America, it also owns Detroit Diesel and Freightliner LLC — which is the parent firm of Freightliner Trucks, Sterling Trucks, and Western Star.