According to reports from AFP and Bloomberg on May 28 (local time), Antonio Filosa, the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Stellantis North America, has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Stellantis, the multinational automaker that ranked fifth in global sales last year.
In a statement released that day, Stellantis said, "After a thorough review of both internal and external candidates, the board unanimously selected Filosa," adding, "He was chosen as CEO due to his more than 25 years of experience in the automotive industry, proven track record, global field experience, deep understanding of the company, and outstanding leadership."
CEO Filosa will officially assume his role as CEO starting June 23.
CEO Filosa faces a number of pressing challenges, including sluggish sales in the US and European markets and ongoing supply chain disruptions. In the US market, sales have continued to decline. In the first quarter of this year, Stellantis's North American shipments dropped by 20% compared to the same period last year. Additionally, the 25% auto tariff imposed by US President Donald Trump has further exacerbated supply chain disruptions.
The situation in the European market is also difficult. Alongside issues of overproduction, competition is intensifying as Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers such as BYD rapidly gain market share with low-priced electric vehicles.
Amid worsening business performance, CEO Carlos Tavares, who had led the group since 2021, stepped down in December last year under pressure from the board. Since then, an interim board led by Stellantis Chairman John Elkann has been managing the company.
Filosa, who was born in Naples, Italy, began his career at Fiat Chrysler, served as CEO of Jeep, and was promoted in October last year to COO of North and South America, overseeing both regions.
Stellantis was established in 2021 through the merger of Fiat Chrysler and French company PSA, and is a global automaker that owns 14 brands, including Jeep, Fiat, Chrysler, and Dodge.
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