The Ferrari chairman Sergio Marchionne will also become the luxury sportscar maker's chief executive after Amedeo Felisa's decision to retire, the company said on Monday.
Mr Felisa’s departure was expected for months after rumours emerged last August that the executive born in 1946 was getting ready to retire. Mr Felisa, who previously headed product development at Alfa Romeo, joined Ferrari in 1990 and became its chief executive in 2008.
Mr Marchionne, who is also the chief executive of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, will assume the chief executive responsibilities at the Italian luxury group while retaining his current role as the chairman. Mr Felisa will continue to serve on the board of directors as technical advisor to the company.
Separately, Mr Marchionne said Fiat will try to reach full-employment in its Italian plants before its 2018 goal as it relaunches the Alfa Romeo brand internationally.
He said Fiat’s business plan calls for refocusing Italian manufacturing on higher-margin premium brands Alfa Romeo and Maserati to get plants operating at full capacity.
Fiat has slowed the roll-outs of Alfa Romeos largely due to a slowdown in China’s economy, but the Mr Marchionne said he was encouraged by a recent visit to China. He said he saw “a real, live market for Alfa in China,” adding: “I thought the market was shut, and it hasn’t.”
He also said he hopes to launch the new Alfa Giulia saloon in China.
business@thenational.ae
Follow The National's Business section on Twitter
