Tuesday 3rd May 2016

Ferrari CEO steps down

Marchionne machinations see CEO Amedeo Felisa move aside

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At risk of waking up in a tank with a laser-fitted shark, we have to say that there's always been something of the Bond villain about Sergio Marchionne. The Italian-Canadian has only worked in the car industry for just over a decade, but has become one of its most powerful executives as boss of Fiat-Chrysler, and is now set to add CEO of Ferrari to his list of job titles.

Marchionne has always done things differently. He rarely wears suit or tie, preferring a baggier version of the sort of expensive knitwear Steve Jobs used to sport. Marchionne often adds a scarf to his ensemble as well, whatever the weather. His mannerisms and quietly spoken demeanour also have much of the natural authority of one who lives in a hollowed-out volcano, and he does an excellent line in prognostication about the future of the motor industry that has made him a favourite of quote-hungry journos.

Marchionne marches on

Bagging the top job at Ferrari is hardly a surprise. Marchionne has been chairman since 2014 when Luca di Montezemolo stepped down, reportedly after various clashes between the two men given Ferrari's then-role as an FCA subsidiary. Marchionne will be carrying on as CEO of Fiat-Chrysler as well, so pity whoever is in charge of organising his diary.

Marchionne's promotion means the departure of Ferrari's current CEO, Amedeo Felisa, who is apparently retiring. And who should also be given much of the credit for the brand's record-breaking performance in recent years, and the general excellence of its products. He will be carrying on as a technical adviser, and we imagine his farewell gift will be more than a gold carriage clock.

Marchionne has previously talked of plans to boost Ferrari production to around 10,000 cars a year, although more recently he scaled back his short term aspirations to stay around the 7,000 a year the company currently makes. Now he's fully in charge at Maranello it will be very interesting to see what happens next.

 

[Martin 480 Turbo]

and he does not know A THING about cars. Amazing career.