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Paolo Castagna
will take over as Chairman Managing Director of Fiat India
on 1st June, as the Italian carmaker puts in place a new
management team at its Indian subsidiary.
41-year-old Castagna, who replaces current incumbent Alberto
Montanari, has worked with the Fiat Group since the spring
of since 1988. He has been an active member of the Fiat
Group board in recent years, and has worked outside Italy
for more than 18 years. Castagna’s last assignment has been
as the Managing Director, marketing and manufacturing, in
one of the group companies in Austria and Germany.
Alberto Montanari will now be returning to Fiat HQ in Turin
to take up a top position in Fiat’s recently formed
Powertrain Technologies division.
The new company, formed after the dissolution of the Fiat-GM
partnership, will operate in 12 countries with 26 plants
and 16 research and development centers and will combine the
resources, employees and activities of Fiat Auto Powertrain,
Iveco Powertrain, Magneti Marelli Powertrain (including
Motor Sport), Iveco Motoren Forschung and the Powertrain
research activities of the Fiat Research Center and Elasis.
Montanari became
the Chairman and Managing Director of Fiat India in
September 2003, replacing MP Bianchi who returned to take up
a senior appointment in Turin.
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The 'European Car of the Year' award-winning Fiat
Panda (above) is due to arrive in India,
along with the Idea 'MPV' |
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The Fiat Siena has recently been renamed the Petra
in India to give it a fresh boost while the
'Adventure' range (above) of the 'World Car' project
family is just about to be launched |
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Montanari moved directly to this position after a stint as
Managing Director of Fiat Auto South Africa. The sweeping
changes at Fiat India will also see the head of
manufacturing R Reggieri, and B Frate, who handles
technology aspects, also departing.
The reshuffle
comes as Fiat Auto target turning India into their regional
manufacturing hub. The Fiat Siena has recently been renamed
the Petra to give it a fresh boost, the 'Adventure' range of
the 'World Car' project family is about to be launched,
while the compact and innovative 1.3 Multijet 16v diesel
engine is set to be licensed for production locally. The
'European Car of the Year' award-winning Fiat Panda is due
to arrive, along with the 'mini mpv' Fiat Idea, and strong
rumour has it that Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne is poised to
unveil a major new carmaking alliance in the country,
possibly with Tata.
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