Stellantis is nearing a final decision in its months-long search for a new CEO. Antonio Filosa, the current COO for North America, has emerged as the top contender, according to individuals familiar with the matter.
In December, former CEO Carlos Tavares was ousted amid clashes with board members and years of leadership missteps that sent Stellantis’ global performance plummeting. The automaker implemented an interim leadership executive committee, headed by Chairman John Elkann, and reassured investors that it would appoint a successor in the first half of 2025. However, the urgency to appoint a new chief executive is growing due to stalled decision-making under interim leadership.
Filosa joined Fiat in 1999 and advanced into top management in 2018. He became part of Stellantis’ senior leadership following the 2021 merger that created the company, and has received multiple promotions since. He now serves as the COO for North America, chief quality officer and oversees all American brands. He’s been positively received by the dealer community, and his leadership has helped improve the company’s relationship with the United Auto Workers (UAW).
Despite Filosa’s promising potential, the board has yet to make a final decision. It continues to evaluate both internal and external candidates and may appoint another individual.
In March 2024, Stellantis’ market capitalization peaked at $93 billion, making it one of the most valuable automakers globally. Under Tavares’ leadership, however, the automaker lost significant value and is now worth around $28 billion, a drop of nearly 70%. The decline continues, with the automaker recently reporting a 12% year-over-year drop in U.S. sales for the first quarter.
In addition to internal challenges, the company faces mounting external pressures, including President Trump’s tariffs on imported autos, its ongoing struggle with excess capacity in Europe and fierce competition from Chinese automakers. Due to the uncertainty, Stellantis suspended its full-year guidance for 2025 in late April.
