Stellantis has named Antonio Filosa as its new Chief Executive Officer, drawing a line under months of uncertainty following the abrupt departure of Carlos Tavares. The 51-year-old Italian, who currently oversees operations across the Americas and also serves as Chief Quality Officer, will officially step into the role on 23 June. His formal appointment as executive director will follow at an extraordinary shareholders’ meeting.
The board’s unanimous decision reflects both the scale of the task at hand and Filosa’s reputation as a safe pair of hands. After a disastrous 2024 in which Stellantis saw profits nosedive by 70% and cash burn up to €6 billion, the company now finds itself in need of a steadying influence. Filosa must navigate not just volatile global markets, but increasingly uneasy relations with unions, suppliers, and its own dealer network.
Veteran with a global outlook
Filosa’s credentials lie in his wide experience and crisis management skills. A two-decade veteran of Fiat and Stellantis, he rose to notice by the Stellantis board during his tenure in South America, where he helped push Fiat to market leadership while expanding the footprint of brands including Jeep and Peugeot.
He spearheaded the development of the Pernambuco plant in Brazil, a cornerstone of the company’s Latin American strategy, and later drove Jeep’s international growth as its global chief. Since taking the reins of North American operations last October, Filosa has wasted little time retooling the region’s leadership. He addressed dealer inventory issues and reopened lines of communication with suppliers and unions that had been fractured under Tavares’ ruling.
“The right leader for this next chapter”
Executive Chairman John Elkann praised Filosa’s appointment as both timely and necessary, citing his deep understanding of the company and its people. “This is a transitional year,” Elkann said, “and Antonio is the right leader for this next chapter.” Vice Chairman Robert Peugeot called him the “natural choice” to guide Stellantis through a period of profound industry change.
That change, however, is coming quickly. Donald Trump’s reimposition of steep tariffs on imported vehicles has left Stellantis particularly exposed. Analysts warn that the levies could erase up to 75% of the company’s 2025 profits, with imports from Europe, Mexico, and Canada —key production bases for brands like Jeep and Maserati — bearing the brunt.
Turning inward
There is growing speculation that Filosa will be forced to trim Stellantis’ oversized and cannibalizing 14-brand portfolio. Whether he opts for further consolidation or outright cancellation of certain brands, by deletion or sale, remains a question mark. He may also pivot away from a decades-old globalization model in favor of regionalization, echoing recent strategic shifts witnessed at Volvo, for example.
Filosa, for his part, remains bullish: “Our strength lies in our people, our iconic brands, and our century-long legacy of innovation,” he said. “By focusing on what customers value most, we’ll move Stellantis forward.”
The official end of the Tavares era
Tavares’ downfall mimicked the Icarus story. Once hailed as the architect of the PSA-FCA merger, his grip on Stellantis loosened amid growing unrest. His reluctance to accelerate electric vehicle investment drew fire from shareholders, while his cost-cutting mantra began to leave deep marks with workers and dealers alike. But Tavares stubbornly pushed on.
His executive pay fueled the fire. As the French state, the Peugeot family’s long-time shareholder, grappled with surging layoffs and declining sales, Tavares’ industry-leading compensation became a thorn in the side. Subsequently, Tavares was ousted a year before his planned retirement.
