The move returns the running of Stellantis to Italian hands after three years.
Stellantis, the world’s fourth-largest carmaker, announced the appointment of Italian auto executive Antonio Filosa as its new chief executive officer on Wednesday. Filosa will be taking over from Carlos Tavares, who stepped down last year under pressure.
Antonio Filosa currently holds the positions of chief operating officer for the Americas and chief quality officer at Stellantis. He is scheduled to assume his new role on June 23 and is expected to unveil his leadership team at that time.
This leadership change marks a return to Italian leadership for Stellantis, which was formed in 2021 through the merger of France’s PSA Peugeot and Italian-US carmaker Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. Carlos Tavares, who previously led Peugeot, served as CEO for three years. John Elkann, the successor of the Fiat-owning Agnelli family, will continue in his role as chairman of Stellantis.
Elkann praised Filosa’s “deep understanding of our company, including its people, who he views as our core strength, and of our industry.”
Robert Peugeot said the board’s choice was unanimous, calling Filosa a “natural choice” due to his leadership track record and knowledge of the business and “the complex dynamics facing our industry.”
Filosa joined Fiat in 1999, spending much of his career in Latin America where held positions from plant manager to head of purchasing and later chief operating officer. He was credited with making the Fiat brand the regional market leader and boosting the market share of the Peugeot, Citroen, Ram and Jeep brands.
He was promoted to chief operating officer of the Americas in 2024 in an executive shakeup as sales slumped in North America, its main source of profits.
Stellantis has been lagging globally in the transition to electric powertrains and facing stiff Chinese competition. Analysts also have said Stellantis, with 14 brands, is yoked by too many under-performers, including Maserati and Chrysler.
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