Stellantis Denies CEO Speculation

Stellantis (EPA:STLAM) has rejected a report by Corriere della Sera that suggested outgoing Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) CFO Luca Maestri was under consideration for the company's next CEO. This statement was reported by Reuters on Wednesday.

A spokesperson for Stellantis labeled the claim as "not true," amid rumors that Chairman John Elkann intended to appoint Maestri to replace Carlos Tavares, the previous CEO who unexpectedly resigned late Sunday.

Tavares's resignation was reportedly due to conflicts with the board and major shareholders, leading Stellantis to actively seek a successor.

The board is reviewing internal candidates such as Antonio Filosa, head of North American operations, and Maxime Picat, the procurement chief, while also considering external options, according to Reuters.

Maxime Picat, currently the chief purchasing and supplier quality officer, has extensive experience with Stellantis and its predecessor companies. He joined Peugeot (OTC:PUGOY) in 1998, taking on roles such as managing director of DongFeng Peugeot Citroen Automobiles in China, and became Stellantis' chief operating officer for the enlarged Europe region in 2021.

Antonio Filosa, an Italian who joined Fiat (BIT:STLAM) in 1999, has also held multiple leadership positions, including Fiat Chrysler chief in Latin America. Following a recent organizational reshuffle, he was appointed COO for North American operations in October 2023 and continues as the global head of the Jeep brand.