Fiat S.p.A. is pleased to announce significant organisational changes effective September 1, 2011.
As a result of the acquisition of majority ownership of Chrysler Group and consistent with the objective of enhancing the operational integration of Fiat S.p.A. and Chrysler Group, Fiat S.p.A. is today announcing the formation of a Group Executive Council, similar to the one that managed Fiat S.p.A. until the demerger of the Fiat Industrial activities.
The Group Executive Council (GEC) is the highest executive decision making body within Fiat outside of its Board of Directors[1]. It is responsible for reviewing the operating performance of the businesses, setting performance targets, making key strategic decisions and investments for the Group and sharing best practices, including the development and deployment of key human resources.
The GEC will have four main groupings.
The first is composed of four Regional Operations Groups for car manufacturing and sales, plus Parts and Service (MOPAR), Automotive Components (mainly Magneti Marelli) and Systems and Castings (Teksid and Comau). Each will be the responsibility of a Chief Operating Officer (COO) who will drive the organisation via a regional Management Team (subject of a separate announcement prior to September 1, 2011). The COOs are accountable for Profit and Loss of their region/business, the management of regional resources, including manufacturing and commercial activities.
The COOs appointed to the GEC are as follows:
| NAFTA (including Chrysler) | Sergio Marchionne |
| Europe, Africa and Middle East: | Gianni Coda |
| Latin America: | Cledorvino Belini |
| Asia: | Michael Manley |
| Parts and Service (MOPAR): | Pietro Gorlier |
| Components (Magneti Marelli): | Eugenio Razelli |
| Teksid/Comau: | Riccardo Tarantini |
The second grouping is reflective of the Group’s focus and emphasis on its brands. Each of the global or potentially global brands is represented in the GEC, and their responsibility will be to improve and develop an appropriate brand portfolio and to assist in the development of adequate commercial and marketing strategies in each of the Group’s operating regions.
The Brand Heads appointed to the GEC are as follows:
| Fiat: | Olivier Francois |
| Commercial Vehicles: | Lorenzo Sistino |
| Alfa/Abarth/Maserati: | Harald Wester |
| Lancia/Chrysler: | Saad Chehab |
| Jeep: | Michael Manley |
| Dodge: | Reid Bigland |
The second grouping is reflective of the Group’s focus and emphasis on its brands. Each of the global or potentially global brands is represented in the GEC, and their responsibility will be to improve and develop an appropriate brand portfolio and to assist in the development of adequate commercial and marketing strategies in each of the Group’s operating regions.
The Brand Heads appointed to the GEC are as follows:
| Fiat: | Olivier Francois |
| Commercial Vehicles: | Lorenzo Sistino |
| Alfa/Abarth/Maserati: | Harald Wester |
| Lancia/Chrysler: | Saad Chehab |
| Jeep: | Michael Manley |
| Dodge: | Reid Bigland |
They will be supported by a Chief Creative Officer, Olivier François.
The third group is composed of industrial process leaders, who will drive consistency and rigor across the operating regions, and optimize the capital allocation choices the Group will face in the years to come.
| Chief Technology Officer: | Harald Wester |
| Design: | Lorenzo Ramaciotti |
| Manufacturing Technology and Coordination: | Stefan Ketter |
| Group Purchasing: | Vilmar Fistarol |
| Quality: | Doug Betts |
| Powertrain Coordinator: | Bob Lee |
| Product Portfolio Management: | Mark Chernoby |
The final group is composed of support / corporate functions[2].
| Business Development: | Alfredo Altavilla |
| Fiat Services & Holdings[3]: | Alessandro Baldi |
| Chief Financial Officer: | Richard Palmer |
| Chief Human Resource Officer: | Linda Knoll |
The GEC will utilise Alessandro Baldi as the Executive Coordinator.
“We have now reached the right moment to step on the accelerator of Fiat-Chrysler integration,” said Sergio Marchionne, Chief Executive of Fiat and Chrysler.
“These appointments are the result of an extensive process of evaluation of the technical and leadership skills of the individuals who have been appointed to the GEC. But equally important is the fact that they reflect the multi-cultural geographically diverse nature of our businesses. We recognise in these leaders the future of Fiat-Chrysler as an efficient, multi-national competitor in a global automotive marketplace.
“It is a privilege for me to have the opportunity to lead this group of people and see them grow, to watch them as they transform challenge into success and into faith in themselves and what they can achieve.”
Turin, 28 July 2011