DETROIT — Ram's interim North American chief, Mike Koval Jr., says outgoing Fiat Chrysler Automobiles U.S. sales boss Reid Bigland pushed him to be the best he can be.
Now it's up to Koval to take what he learned under Bigland and keep the truck brand's momentum going. Bigland, a do-it-all executive who has spent 22 years at Chrysler and FCA, is stepping down next month after his 2019 whistleblower lawsuit helped bring the relationship to a premature end.
Bigland, who claimed in the lawsuit that FCA retaliated against him for aiding a U.S. investigation into sales-reporting practices by withholding his compensation, is leaving April 3 after coming to an amicable resolution with the automaker.
Bigland, a bodybuilding enthusiast known for his 4 a.m. workouts, built a solid reputation as a tough but fair operator who challenged dealers.
He leaves at a time when Ram is flourishing. The brand achieved record U.S. sales i…