Mike Manley FCA CEO to Head Americas for Stellantis

Mike Manley will head Americas operations for Stellantis, as FCA chairman John Elkann said in a letter to employees today.

In it, Elkann reiterated that Carlos Tavares, currently chairman of French automaker Groupe PSA, will become CEO of Stellantis, the French and Italian-American automaker product of a marriage that is expected to be consummated sometime in the first quarter of 2021. This amalgamation will create the fourth-largest car company by volume, a merger Manley had sought with another French automaker, Renault before an agreement was reached with PSA a year ago.

PSA gets to name six Stellantis board members, while FCA will elect five. Of the eleven, Tavares and Elkann will occupy two seats, while Manley is left out. Prior to Elkann’s announcement, Manley had said he would remain with the company in an unspecified senior executive role.

Manley took over as FCA CEO in July 2018, days before the untimely passing of then-CEO Sergio Marchionne. As Jeep brand head, Ram brand head, and COO of the Asia Pacific region, Manley previously served as executive vice president for international sales and global product planning operations. A Brit, Manley in 2000 teamed up with what was then DaimlerChrysler as UK director of network development.

In the letter, Elkann said, “Mike took the helm of our company under the most difficult of circumstances, leading by example. The following year, 2019, can hardly be described as uneventful, but even so we concluded it by sealing our merger with Groupe PSA and with another set of strong results. 2020, a year none of us could have imagined, required us to reinvent the way we work, and once again Mike has led from the front.”

“Perhaps it should be no surprise that having led the profound transformation and exceptional development of the Jeep and Ram brands before becoming CEO, Mike has taken the rough terrain of the past couple of years in stride. And so, you will understand why that once our merger completes, Mike will be asked to take up the role of Head of Americas, working alongside Carlos and continuing to bring his great experience, energy and drive to making Stellantis the extraordinary company we know it will be,” said Elkann.

While it is unclear exactly what he will be doing as Head of Americas, the letter ended with notice of a Town Hall later today, where Manley is expected to speak.

[Images: FCA]