Reid Bigland is going to have to get more comfortable talking about handling and G-forces, as opposed to tow ratings and four-wheel-drive systems in his newest position. The former president and CEO of Ram trucks is now filling the same positions within Alfa Romeo for the NAFTA region. On top of that, he’s also the Chrysler Group’s head of U.S. sales, and the chairman, president and chief executive officer of Chrysler Canada. He’s even a member of the Pentastar’s board of directors. How do you ask, “Does this guy ever sleep?” in Italian?
Taking Bigland’s place at Ram is 28-year Chrysler-man Robert Hegbloom. He most recently served as the pickup manufacturer’s director of product marketing. An important job, of course, but now, as head honcho, he’s responsible for Ram’s “brand sales, marketing, dealer network and service.” This makes me want to ask, “Will this guy ever sleep?”
Good luck, gentlemen. You’ve got your work cut out for you. There are plenty of people here in the states still waiting for the release of a full Alfa Romeo product portfolio, and the industry-changing Ford F-150 will be in dealerships soon.
Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.
After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.
While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.
Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.
