Mike Manley FCA CEO to Head Americas for Stellantis

Jason R. Sakurai
by Jason R. Sakurai

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]

Jason R. Sakurai
Jason R. Sakurai

With a father who owned a dealership, I literally grew up in the business. After college, I worked for GM, Nissan and Mazda, writing articles for automotive enthusiast magazines as a side gig. I discovered you could make a living selling ad space at Four Wheeler magazine, before I moved on to selling TV for the National Hot Rod Association. After that, I started Roadhouse, a marketing, advertising and PR firm dedicated to the automotive, outdoor/apparel, and entertainment industries. Through the years, I continued writing, shooting, and editing. It keep things interesting.

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  • RHD RHD on Dec 19, 2020

    But will he bring back Plymouth? Can he resuscitate the Mitsubishi captive import program? Will there be a new version of the D-50? I'm being facetious, of course. Once we go all-electric, I'm hoping the classic AMC, Nash, Hudson, Rambler and Chrysler Corporation vehicles will have updated versions as body shells on electric platforms. Imagine a 2025 version of the Marlin, AMX, original Jeep Cherokee, Hudson 8 Convertible, or even a Hudson Hornet. I wonder if the auto designers realize that the sky is the limit, or if they are just going to make electric pedestrian-smashing SUVs.

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    • Scoutdude Scoutdude on Dec 22, 2020

      @Inside Looking Out When Kaiser bought Willys it didn't take them long before they canceled the the Willys Aero. When AMC bought Kaiser-Jeep the Kaiser car line had already been discontinued. When Renault bought AMC they did it for Jeep and to have an outlet for their own cars in the US. When Chrysler Bought AMC from Renault it was for Jeep and it didn't take long until all the AMCs were gone. When Daimler bought Chrysler it didn't take long until they put the Chrysler and Dodge Brands up for sale. It was only out of desperation that they finally relented and sold it as a package deal.

  • Jeff S Jeff S on Dec 20, 2020

    How about an EV Fury SUV?

  • MaintenanceCosts It's not a Benz or a Jag / it's a 5-0 with a rag /And I don't wanna brag / but I could never be stag
  • 3-On-The-Tree Son has a 2016 Mustang GT 5.0 and I have a 2009 C6 Corvette LS3 6spd. And on paper they are pretty close.
  • 3-On-The-Tree Same as the Land Cruiser, emissions. I have a 1985 FJ60 Land Cruiser and it’s a beast off-roading.
  • CanadaCraig I would like for this anniversary special to be a bare-bones Plain-Jane model offered in Dynasty Green and Vintage Burgundy.
  • ToolGuy Ford is good at drifting all right... 😉
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