Ralph Gilles of Stellantis Named 2024 CCS Commencement Speaker
May 9, 2024
Gilles graduated from CCS with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Transportation Design and joins a list of recent commencement speakers including Doug Chiang, Patricia Moore, Kevin Beasley ‘07, Edward T. Welburn, Jr., and Brenda Goodman ‘65.
“CCS will always hold a special place in my heart as it played a pivotal role in shaping my artistic foundation and helped to launch my career path. It holds a lifetime of memories and the connections I’ve formed with fellow artists have become lifelong friendships,” said Ralph Gilles, Chief Design Officer, Stellantis. “Being selected as this year’s commencement speaker and receiving an honorary degree is an overwhelming honor.”
For over three decades, Ralph Gilles has been the driving force behind some of the most iconic vehicles on the road. As the chief design officer for Stellantis, Gilles wields his creative finesse across legendary brands: Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep®, Ram, Fiat (for Latin America), and Maserati.
During his tenure, Gilles also served as president and CEO of the Dodge//SRT brand and achieved three national titles, including the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Driver’s Championship and the 2014 IMSA TUDOR United SportsCar Championship GTLM-class driver’s, including a variety of team titles.
As a key member of the global Top Executive Team and the Stellantis Global Diversity Council, Gilles works to engineer a more inclusive and harmonious workplace as the executive sponsor for two employee business resource groups, the Stellantis African Ancestry Network Diaspora and the Working Parents Network.
Gilles has earned numerous academic and industry awards, including the EyesOn Design Lifetime Achievement Award (2023), Multicultural Media Lifetime Achievement Auto Industry Award (2021), Concours d’Elegance of America’s Enthusiast of the Year (2017), The Michigan State Eli Broad Graduate School of Management Young Alumni Achievement Award (2005) and The Automotive Hall of Fame Young Leadership & Excellence Award (2003).
An avid car enthusiast, Gilles’ love for the automotive industry is evident outside of the office, where you can find him on the weekends competing in Radical Racing events or tackling legendary racetracks around the country. Sometimes, he even doubles as a driving coach, imparting wisdom to aspiring racers. A competitor at heart, he has participated in the Targa Newfoundland Rally, Car and Driver’s One Lap of America and the SRT Viper Cup Series. In addition, he frequently serves as a judge at various Concours d’Elegance events across the country, including Pebble Beach, Amelia Island and the EyesOn Design car show.
Netflix’s lens turned toward Gilles in season one of “Abstract: The Art of Design,” where they not only captured his essence, but they also followed him through the design studios, on racetracks, and with his team who helps fuel his creativity.
Gilles earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Transportation Design from the College for Creative Studies (CCS) and an MBA from Michigan State University. He serves as a member of the board of trustees at CCS and is also the 2023-2024 Ambassador’s Club co-chair as part of the company’s involvement with the United Way for Southeastern Michigan.
