Antonio Filosa: Elkann's secret weapon to restart the Stellantis machine

The Stellantis board of directors has unanimously decided that Antonio Filosa is the new head of the group. At 52, with 25 years of experience within the company, he was the favorite for internal promotion. His track record and results spoke in his favor. He now inherits the task of reviving a giant that has come to a standstill.

Joining Fiat in 1999, the Neapolitan has climbed the ranks, holding a series of operational positions. In 2005, he moved to Brazil, accelerating his career. After heading up purchasing and then factory operations, he took charge of operations in South America in 2021. In 2023, he became CEO of Jeep, then, in October, COO for North America. Two months later, John Elkann, the group's executive chairman, appointed him COO for the Americas.

In the space of a year, Stellantis has seen a flurry of changes in its management. Filosa, however, has been able to take advantage of the chaos to really forge his position. His in-depth knowledge of the company, along with his ability to maneuver in unstable contexts, have made all the difference.

A distinctive management style

Filosa inherited a weakened group facing numerous challenges: delays in innovation, industrial inefficiencies, and tensions in the supply chains. But where his predecessor, Carlos Tavares, embodied a sometimes rigid rigor, Filosa appeals with his human approach to management. Well-liked by American unions and now a prominent figure in South America, he remains close to Sergio Marchionne, the architect of Fiat's turnaround.

A tense industry environment

Stellantis did not have an easy task in finding a successor by any means. The automotive industry is going through a period of turbulence: one in five executives has left their position in the last twelve months. The requirements have changed. It is no longer enough to be a good manager: you now need to combine international diplomacy, strategic vision, technological expertise, and rigor to cope with pressure on margins.

The group reportedly explored external options before changing its mind. In such a climate, priority was given to cohesion, embodied by a familiar face.

A busy roadmap

Antonio Filosa will unveil his management team on June 23. His mission: to regain shareholder confidence, boost margins, with operating income cut by two-thirds in 2024, preserve jobs in Europe, and accelerate innovation in a rapidly changing market.

John Elkann gets straight to the point, declaring that "The fate of our sector will be decided this year." Filosa embodies a rare combination of solid industrial vision and human leadership. He must now prove himself in a group that has 14 brands which is looking to bounce back.