Nation

Lino J. Piedra has been elected chairman of the board of Diamond-Star Motors Corp., the joint venture of Chrysler Corp. and Mitsubishi Motors announced Tuesday.

Piedra, 43, comes to the U.S.-Japanese auto-making venture in Normal, Ill., from Chrysler’s international operations, where he was director of Renault policy and strategy and coordinated the U.S. auto maker’s relationship with Renault.

Piedra, a native of Cuba, formerly directed Chrysler’s office in Japan and is a member of Mitsubishi’s board.

He replaces G. Glenn Gardner, who returned to Chrysler Motors in December after overseeing the start of the $650-million factory in Normal, which produces a two-door sports coupe marketed as the Mitsubishi Eclipse and the Plymouth Laser.