Million-miler earns CEO chat

When Robert Swan's wife decided to let DaimlerChrysler know that her husband had just driven his millionth mile in his 1995 Dodge Ram 3500 truck, it caught the attention of Chrysler Group President and CEO Tom LaSorda. On Thursday, LaSorda made his first trip since becoming CEO in September to the Chrysler Group customer call center in Auburn Hills, Mich., not too far from our world headquarters, reports DCX's corporate weblog. "Anytime the CEO comes, it's a big event," said Maggie Gentry, a customer service representative at the center for more than 20 years. With Maggie's assistance LaSorda decided to ring up Mr. Swan and speak personally with this very satisfied customer. "He was very nice," Swan told us in a telephone interview from his Arlington, Va. home. "I told him I like Chrysler products. It was a kick that he would talk to somebody from the street."





Maggie Gentry said LaSorda jokingly advised Swan that maybe it's time to buy a new vehicle.

He also inscribed the book "Forward: The American Heritage of DaimlerChrysler" with the words, "Please enjoy this great book on the history of our company. Tom LaSorda, CEO."

Swan uses the diesel-powered truck in his work transporting recreational vehicles from the factory to the dealer. He tells us the "rear end was never touched and the rear brakes have never been changed."
Swan says he's only had to replace the pads on the front brakes "three or four times."

That was great news to LaSorda.

"He told me, if I don't perform, I'm out the window," Swan said LaSorda told him.

"He was very friendly."