The search for a new Chief Executive Officer has ended. After months of evaluating both internal and external candidates, Stellantis has named a successor to Carlos Tavares. The former CEO resigned in December 2024, despite his five-year contract being set to expire in early 2026. Antonio Filosa has been unanimously elected by the board to lead the automotive conglomerate.
An Italian executive born in Naples, Filosa began his professional journey with the Fiat Group in 1999. Over the years, he held several key roles, including plant manager of the Betim facility in Brazil. Between 2016 and 2018, he led FCA’s operations in Argentina before becoming Chief Operating Officer for FCA’s Latin America region in March 2018.
Photo by: Stellantis
Following the 2021 merger of the PSA Group and Fiat Chrysler to form Stellantis, Filosa was named COO of South America. He played a pivotal role in establishing Brazil as Jeep’s largest market outside the United States. He became the global CEO of Jeep in 2023 and was appointed COO for the Americas the following year, convincing Tim Kuniskis to return and lead Ram.
Earlier in 2025, he stepped down as Jeep’s global boss to make way for Bob Broderdorf. In February, Filosa assumed the role of Chief Quality Officer. John Elkann will retain his position as Executive Chairman at Stellantis and continue to hold the same role at Ferrari. Filosa, 51, will assume his new position on June 23, when he’ll also announce a new leadership team. Meanwhile, a shareholder meeting is scheduled in the coming days during which he will be appointed as executive director.
The new CEO has agreed to take on a tremendously difficult job. Stellantis’ profits cratered last year, and the portfolio has many struggling brands. The US market share fell by nearly two points in 2024, not to mention that Chrysler is now a shell of its former self. Juggling between 14 brands won’t be easy, especially since early signs of Lancia’s rebirth aren’t exactly encouraging.
DS Automobiles, Citroën’s luxury spin-off, saw its sales plunge by 26.4 percent in Europe in the first four months of the year, according to figures published by the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA). Opel/Vauxhall, Fiat, and Citroën were also down double digits in the region. Overall, Stellantis fell by 9.6 percent through April.
