Karl Heinz Kalbfell, Chief Operating Officer of Alfa Romeo, is also to be nominated Chief Executive Officer of Maserati, replacing Martin Leach who is leaving the Company, confirming rumours that began to circulate last Friday.

With this additional role, Karl Heinz Kalbfell will assume responsibility for the Alfa Romeo-Maserati “sports car pôle” announced last week. This will allow the two marques to achieve important industrial and commercial synergies.

Furthermore, most senior management changes are underway. Giuseppe Bonollo is to be nominated Head of Product Portfolio Management, charged with developing the Fiat and Lancia ranges.

Finally, the Ferrari-Maserati Group's design boss Frank Stephenson, will now be nominated to become Head of the Fiat, Lancia and Commercial Vehicle Styling Centre.

Both Giuseppe Bonollo and Frank Stephenson, who are transfering away from Ferrari, will report directly to Fiat Group and Auto Division CEO, Sergio Marchionne.
 

The Fiat Group announced at the same time that Maserati's Chief Executive Officer Martin Leach is leaving the company with immediate effect. Leach, who was appointed by Sergio Marchionne's predecessor Giuseppe Morchio, is believed to have clashed with the tough CEO over strategic direction, and return of Maserati to Fiat's Auto Division to link up with Alfa Romeo has now left the former Ford Europe boss without a clearly defined role.

Martin Leach commented this afternoon, “I immensely enjoyed the period spent in Maserati. Maserati is a great company and it is ready to begin a new development phase. I wish the whole team in Maserati and in Ferrari, all the best.”

Maserati issued a statement earlier in which they said they "would like to thank Martin Leach for the substantial contribution he made, preparing the company for the next development phase and wishes him all the best for the future."