Stellantis: Challenges for major brands, global reach and automakers
We explore the history of Stellantis, the automotive giant formed in 2021 through the merger of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and PSA Group.
- Antonio Firosa, 51, of Naples, Italy, was appointed Stellantis’ next CEO in May.
- Filosa has been involved in brands related to Stellantis for over 25 years and has recently been a major North American business.
- The Italians focus on the American sector while naming executive teams to lead every angle of the brand.
Antonio Firosa has started a new job and maintains his old job.
Filosa officially started on Monday, June 23rd as CEO of Stellantis, an international automaker that owns Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Fiat and more.
Filosa announced plans to assign a leadership team on the first day and maintain supervision of the North American business while serving as CEO.
In Filosa’s first job, the automaker released some details that provide some insight into what Stellantis looks like under his lead.
North American Director
Filosa, 51, will take over Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares. Tavares was the company’s first CEO following the merger of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and Peugeot SA Group in 2021. During Tavares’ tenure, Stellantis consistently fell into profits and maintained a reputation with employees and dealers that proved difficult to resolve. Tavares resigned in the second half of 2024.
During his tenure at Tavares, he attracted the rage of United auto workers. This launched a strike when Tavares felt he had no end to the bargain and then launched the “Promis the Promise” campaign that followed.
Annoyed, US Stellantis dealer took an extraordinary step in September, writing a public letter disciplining Tavares and the company’s business. Calling Tavares’ leadership “reckless,” the dealer said their distinctive American brand fluttered.
“Reckless, short-term decisions to secure record profits in 2023 have been catastrophic yet completely predictable results in the US market,” the letter reads.
However, Filosa generally receives positive marks from North American dealers who feel he fits more with his market.
The move to highlight North America makes sense from a business perspective, according to Sam Fiorani, vice president of global vehicle forecasting at Autoforecast Solutions.
“North America is the most important region for Stellarantis at a profit level,” Fioni said. “Revenues from these brands between Ram and Jeep correct the shortfalls from other brands around the world.”
Fiorani hopes Stellantis will place more aggressive brands in the coming months.
“In the next six months or a year, we’ll really see a solid move to at least put the Jeep and RAM in a better position, if not the rest of the North American brand,” Fiorani says.
I work in Detroit
When Filosa served as America’s Chief Operating Officer, he was a continuing role, working at Chrysler headquarters in Auburn Hills. Stellantis officials, who are now at the top of international companies, confirmed to the Free Press that Filosa and his family are staying in Metro Detroit.
For Fioni, this may help repair the wounds of the Tavares era.
“Filosa knows this is really important,” Fioni said. “Make sure he is on the ground in Detroit is the first step towards (reinforcing the stability of the company).
Before taking over as CEO, Filosa toured several North American factories, including the Detroit Assembly Complex and the Sterling Stamping Factory.
Leadership Team
On his first day, Filosa nominated the brand’s next top executive. Almost all of the appointees come from within the company, and many started with affiliated brands before the formation of Stellantis in 2021. Firosa is based in Europe with many of his leadership teams.
For Fioni, a senior leadership region, it is less important than experience.
“They all have that deep background,” Fioni said. “This offers a world-class team, which the company hasn’t seen in decades.”
The new team is primarily homemade, but does not mean the usual business of the automaker. In fact, Fiorani said their experience in-house is a positive.
“Most of the people there have been 20 years of experience. The average for this group is nearly 21 years with one brand Stellantis,” Fiorani says. “They seem to live and breathe this company.”
Here is the full list of Stellantis leadership teams:
- Antonio Firosa, CEO, Head of Brands in North America and America.
- Doug Ostermann, CFO, mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures.
- Head of expanded European and European brands including Jean-Philippe Imparato and Maserati.
- Stellantis Pro One (Stelantis’ Commercial Vehicle Business Unit), head of South America; Emmanuele Capelano;
- Philip de Rovira, World Secretary and Stellantis Financial Services.
- Davide Mele, Head of Product Planning.
- Ned Curic, Head of Product Development and Technology.
- anglyness Jacquet, head of quality.
- Monica Genovese, the person in charge of purchasing.
- Scott Thierre, head of supply chain.
- Arnaud Deboeuf, manufacturer.
- Xavier Chéreau, Head of Human Resources and Sustainability.
- Clara Ingen-Housz, Head of Corporate Affairs and Communications.
Liam Rappleye covers Stellantis and UAW from Detroit Free Press. Please contact him: lrappleye@freepress.com.
