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.
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Frank Stephenson
(right) is now head of Fiat, Lancia and LCV Styling,
reporting to Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne (centre) |
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Karl Heinz Kalbfell, Chief Operating Officer of Alfa
Romeo, is also to be nominated Chief Executive
Officer of Maserati |
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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."
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