Stellantis denies report about new CEO pick By Investing.com

Investing.com — Stellantis (EPA:) dismissed a report by Corriere della Sera suggesting that outgoing Apple (NASDAQ:) CFO Luca Maestri was being considered as the company’s next CEO, Reuters reported on Wednesday. 

A Stellantis spokesperson denied the claim, describing it as “not true,” following speculation that Chairman John Elkann planned to name Maestri as a replacement for CEO Carlos Tavares, who resigned unexpectedly late Sunday.

This comes after Tavares reportedly stepped down due to disagreements with the board and major shareholders, prompting Stellantis to actively search for a successor. 

The board is evaluating internal candidates, including Antonio Filosa, head of North American operations, and Maxime Picat, the company’s procurement chief, while also remaining open to external candidates, according to Reuters. 

Maxime Picat, currently the chief purchasing and supplier quality officer, has a long history with Stellantis and its predecessor companies. 

He joined Peugeot (OTC:) in 1998 and held roles such as managing director of DongFeng Peugeot Citroen Automobiles in China before becoming Stellantis’ chief operating officer for the enlarged Europe region following the group’s formation in 2021.

Antonio Filosa, an Italian who joined Fiat (BIT:) in 1999, has held several leadership roles, including Fiat Chrysler chief in Latin America. 

After serving as Stellantis COO for South America, Filosa was appointed COO for North American operations in October 2023 during a management reshuffle. He also serves as the global head of the Jeep brand, a role he continues to hold.