Stellantis announced today the appointment of Antonio Filosa as Chief Executive Officer. He will officially be CEO from June 23, when he will also announce a new leadership team, the company said. (We wrote his qualifications and possible fulfillment of the role back on May 13, 2025.)
Stellantis Chairman John Elkann has held the position of interim CEO since the resignation of Carlos Tavares in December 2024. Elkann stated that the board’s choice was unanimous and was based on Filosa’s “proven track record of hands-on success during his more than 25 years in the automotive industry.
“Antonio’s deep understanding of our Company, including its people who he views as our core strength, and of our industry equip him perfectly for the role of Chief Executive Officer in this next and crucial phase of Stellantis’ development,” said Elkann. “I have worked closely with Antonio over the past six months during which time his responsibilities have increased, and his strong and effective leadership spanning both North and South America at a moment of unprecedented challenge have confirmed the excellent qualities he brings to the role. Together with the entire Board, I look forward to working with him.”
Filosa has headed Stellantis operations in North America since last October. In a sign of his growing influence, the interim executive committee led by Chairman John Elkann gave him the additional role of global chief for quality in February. In turn, Filosa handed over the role of head of the Jeep brand, which he had held since 2023, to Bob Broderdorf who served as senior vice president and head of Jeep for North America.
“We have the world’s best and most iconic brands in automotive history and an over 100-year heritage of innovation. That legacy, combined with our relentless dedication to giving our customers the products and services they love, will continue to be key to our success,” Filosa said.
Filosa takes on leadership at a time when the automotive market is facing stark economic instability. Stellantis currently employs approximately 248,000 people globally. He faces tough decisions on the company’s 14 brands which include; Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Citroën, Dodge, DS Automobiles, Fiat, Jeep, Maserati, Opel, Peugeot, Ram, Lancia and Vauxhall, a legacy of its creation through the merger in 2021 of Fiat Chrysler and France’s PSA.
Earlier this year, Stellantis announced it would be suspending its financial guidance for 2025, citing “tariff-related uncertainties.” In its latest earnings report, Stellantis saw a 14% dip in revenue during the first quarter of 2025. The year prior told a similar story: In 2024, Stellantis saw a 70% drop in net profit compared with 2023. Sales fell 15% in 2024 compared with the year before, and the company in April reported that first-quarter sales this year dropped 12% from the same quarter last year.
He will also need to pursue an effort, initiated by Chairman John Elkann, to rebuild relations with suppliers, after Tavares’ focus on cost-cutting. Many long-standing Stellantis suppliers have come under pressure from lower demand and margins and the group’s attempts to move its operations to low-cost countries to increase efficiency.
Stellantis has no significant presence in China, but Chinese automakers have taken an increased share of the European market, especially with their competitively priced EVs. It responded by teaming up with China’s Leapmotor in what is sometimes referred to as the group’s 15th brand. Stellantis holds a 51 per cent stake in their Leapmotor International joint venture and has exclusive rights to build, export and sell Leapmotor products outside China in the first such arrangement for a legacy Western automaker.
We shall see what the fate of Citroën will be under Filosa’s direction.