Stellantis is evaluating both internal and external candidates for its CEO position following a management reshuffle. Key contenders include Maxime Picat, Antonio Filosa, and Jean-Philippe Imparato, with other notable figures like Luca De Meo and Doug Ostermann also in consideration. The company’s brands, including Jeep and Fiat, will be overseen by a new executive committee led by John Elkann during this transition. Additionally, there’s potential for a tech executive to be considered for the role.
Stellantis Board Evaluates Potential CEO Candidates
The board of directors at Stellantis is actively exploring the possibility of appointing internal candidates for the CEO role, with Antonio Filosa, the director of North American operations, and Maxime Picat, the head of purchasing, emerging as key contenders, according to a source familiar with the situation. Additionally, the board is also considering external candidates in its search for the next leader of the automotive giant.
In the interim, Stellantis, known for its popular Jeep, Ram, Fiat, and Peugeot brands, will be managed by a newly formed executive committee under the leadership of John Elkann, the group’s chairman.
Key Candidates for the CEO Position
Several prominent names are being discussed as potential successors to Mr. Tavares:
Maxime Picat – Mr. Picat currently serves as the director of purchasing and supplier quality at Stellantis. He previously held the position of chief operating officer for the ‘wider Europe’ region when the group was established in January 2021. A 50-year-old French civil engineer, he joined Peugeot PSA in 1998 and has held various roles, including general manager of the DongFeng Peugeot Citroën Automobiles joint venture in China. Picat was notably trained by Carlos Tavares during his time at PSA.
Antonio Filosa – Appointed chief operating officer for North America in October, Mr. Filosa’s role is crucial as the company navigates a management reshuffle following a profit warning. An Italian national, he began his career with the Fiat group in 1999 and has held multiple positions, including heading Fiat Chrysler in Latin America and leading Stellantis for South America before taking charge of the Jeep brand globally in 2023.
Jean-Philippe Imparato – This 58-year-old Frenchman, who was previously the head of brands at Peugeot and Alfa Romeo, recently advanced to general manager of the wider Europe region at Stellantis. A close associate of Tavares, Imparato has expressed a lack of desire to take on the CEO role, stating, “I have neither the expertise nor the ambition to do this job.” He is also responsible for Stellantis’s profitable commercial vehicle unit, Pro One.
Luca De Meo – Currently the CEO of Renault, Mr. De Meo has held senior positions at Fiat Chrysler and Volkswagen. At 57, he has successfully turned around Renault since taking the helm in 2020. Market speculation suggests that a potential transfer to Stellantis could align with a future merger with Renault, especially since Renault recently extended De Meo’s contract for another four years.
Doug Ostermann – An American national, Mr. Ostermann became Stellantis’s CFO in October. He has a background in various roles within the group, particularly in China, where he was instrumental in establishing a cooperation agreement with local automaker Leapmotor. He joined the former Fiat Chrysler group in 2016.
Mike Manley – The former CEO of Fiat Chrysler, Mr. Manley, who succeeded Sergio Marchionne in 2018, is now the leader of AutoNation Inc., the largest automotive retailer in the U.S. With extensive knowledge of Stellantis’s American brands, he left Stellantis in 2021 after briefly serving as head of the Americas.
Richard Palmer – The esteemed former CFO of Stellantis, who departed the group in 2023, has been appointed as a special advisor to Chairman Elkann and will be part of the newly established interim executive committee. He served as CFO at Fiat and Chrysler for 15 years.
Jose Munoz – Recently appointed CEO of Hyundai Motor, Mr. Munoz, originally from Spain and now an American national, was recognized for his impact as COO at Hyundai, driving record sales in North America. His prior experience includes working for Nissan, Toyota, and Daewoo, along with an early career at Citroën.
Tech Executive Consideration – Chairman Elkann may also contemplate a tech industry executive for the CEO position, reflecting the increasing significance of technology in the automotive sector. Notably, in 2021, he appointed Benedetto Vigna from STMicroelectronics as the head of Ferrari.
Edouard Peugeot – Representing the ninth generation of the Peugeot family, he recently succeeded his father as chairman of the family holding company. Despite speculation, a source close to the family has denied any intentions for him to take on the CEO role at Stellantis.