Finance

Stellantis Restructures Leadership to Navigate Industry Challenges Under Carlos Tavares

2024-10-10

Author: Lok

AMSTERDAM – In a bold move to streamline operations and fortify its organizational performance amidst a volatile global landscape, Stellantis has announced significant management changes, effective immediately, under the direction of CEO Carlos Tavares. This strategic reorganization is aimed at sharpening the company’s focus on core business priorities while proactively addressing the myriad challenges currently facing the automotive industry.

Key Appointments

Antonio Filosa has been appointed as Chief Operating Officer for North America while continuing his role as CEO of the Jeep® brand. He succeeds Carlos Zarlenga, with Zarlenga's future role yet to be disclosed. Filosa’s successful track record in Stellantis's South America region, where he significantly increased revenue, quality, and market share, positions him well for this expanded responsibility.

Jean-Philippe Imparato steps in as Chief Operating Officer for an Enlarged Europe, adding to his existing role as CEO of Pro One. This comes after Uwe Hochgeschurtz’s departure from the company. With nearly 34 years of extensive experience across various brands and business units within Stellantis, Imparato is set to bolster the region's commercial performance, particularly in light of the ongoing energy transition.

Doug Ostermann has been named Chief Financial Officer, taking over from Natalie Knight, who is also exiting the company. Ostermann brings over 19 years of financial expertise from three international organizations, including his previous position as Chief Operating Officer in Stellantis China. His broad experience in the automotive sector enhances his capability in managing financial operations.

Additional appointments include Gregoire Olivier as Chief Operating Officer for China, continuing his dual role as Liaison Officer to Leapmotor, due to his in-depth understanding of the dynamic Chinese market. Santo Ficili has been elevated to CEO of Maserati and Alfa Romeo, becoming part of the Top Executive Team. Ficili's extensive background in the automotive industry will be instrumental for these iconic brands during their ongoing transformations.

Supply Chain Restructuring

Furthermore, Stellantis has restructured its Supply Chain organization, transferring it to the Manufacturing Division under Arnaud Deboeuf’s leadership. This strategic shift aims to enable a more focused approach to achieving performance improvements with supplier partners, under the guidance of Maxime Picat, who will now concentrate on enhancing procurement efforts.

CEO’s Remarks

CEO Carlos Tavares remarked, “In this Darwinian era for the automotive sector, it is our ethical obligation to adapt swiftly and effectively. The newly appointed team members will play critical roles in our collective commitment to overcoming future challenges and solidifying Stellantis as a leader in clean, safe, and affordable mobility.”

Future Succession Plans

John Elkann, Chairman of the Board of Directors, expressed the board's unwavering support for Tavares, emphasizing confidence that these decisive changes will empower the leadership team to restore Stellantis’s performance to industry-leading benchmarks.

In addition to these immediate changes, Stellantis has initiated a formal process to identify Tavares's successor, as he plans to retire at the end of his CEO term in early 2026. This effort is being spearheaded by a Special Committee of the Board, chaired by Elkann, and is expected to conclude its work by the fourth quarter of 2025.

As Stellantis moves forward, these leadership adjustments signal a proactive approach to confronting the challenges of an evolving automotive landscape, with the potential for substantial impacts on the global market dynamics.

Stay tuned for more updates as this story unfolds!