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New Stellantis CEO faces slew of challenges, vows to avoid 'mediocrity'
StellantisStellantis(US:STLA) CNBC·2025-06-23 10:00

Core Viewpoint - The appointment of Antonio Filosa as the new CEO of Stellantis is seen as a pivotal moment for the company, which faces significant challenges in revitalizing its performance and restoring relationships with stakeholders after a period of decline under the previous leadership [1][4][14]. Group 1: Leadership Transition - Antonio Filosa, who has been with the company for 25 years, emphasizes the importance of avoiding mediocrity and aims to channel the leadership style of his mentor, Sergio Marchionne, to turn around Stellantis [1][2][4]. - Filosa's leadership style is described as engaging and collective, with a strong understanding of the business from factory operations to executive levels [3][17]. - The previous CEO, Carlos Tavares, resigned amid declining sales and profit, with Stellantis experiencing a 70% drop in net profit last year [5][14]. Group 2: Challenges Ahead - Filosa faces the challenge of mending relationships with dealers, employees, and politicians that were strained during Tavares' tenure, as well as managing the transition to electric vehicles [6][8]. - Stellantis' global sales fell 12.3% from 6.5 million in 2021 to 5.7 million in 2024, with a significant 27% drop in U.S. sales during the same period [11]. - The company is currently experiencing a product shortage, which has contributed to a 12% decline in overall sales during the first quarter of the year compared to the previous year [12]. Group 3: Market Position and Financial Performance - Stellantis' revenue decreased by 17.2% year-over-year in 2024 to €156.9 billion ($180.6 billion), contrasting with growth seen by competitors like General Motors and Ford [13]. - Filosa's immediate priorities include revitalizing U.S. market performance and addressing the extensive 14-brand portfolio of Stellantis [14][20]. - Investor confidence appears to be low, with shares declining 3.2% upon Filosa's appointment and continuing to drop by approximately 10% since then [23].