Jeep executive Mike Manley is to be the new CEO of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV (FCA) after longtime leader Sergio Marchionne’s health suddenly deteriorated following surgery.
The announcement after an emergency board meeting on Saturday marked the end of the Marchionne era, which included the turnaround of failing Fiat, the takeover of bankrupt US automaker Chrysler and the spinoffs of the heavy-machinery and truck maker CNH Industrial NV and supercar maker Ferrari.
Fiat Chrysler said Marchionne, 66, “will be unable to return to work” due to his health.
Manley, 54, has been one of Marchionne’s closest collaborators at the automaker and in a previous role had been responsible for product planning and all sales activities outside of North America. He had been heading the Jeep brand since June 2009 and the Ram brand from October 2015. Much of Fiat Chrysler’s profits come from the Ram pickup, especially in the US.
Marchionne had already announced he would step down from Fiat Chrysler early next year, so the board’s decision, to be confirmed at an upcoming shareholders’ meeting, is to “accelerate” the process, the company said.
Marchionne was holding multiple leadership roles in the companies, notably as CEO of Fiat Chrysler, as well as CEO and chairman of Ferrari.
Ferrari announced that Louis Camilleri, a longtime executive at tobacco company Philip Morris International Inc, would replace Marchionne as CEO of the sports car maker.
CNH said its interim CEO, Derek Neilson, is to continue on pending the selection of a permanent replacement for Marchionne.
Fiat Chrysler did not give details about Marchionne’s medical condition, which was reported to be surgery for a shoulder problem three weeks ago.
However, questions arose after it appeared his recovery was taking longer than expected.
Analysts praised the choice of Manley to succeed Marchionne even as they noted the challenges he faces.
“It’s an end of an era with the iconic, highly quotable, sweater-wearing Sergio Marchionne stepping down, with significant very concerns about his ailing health,” Kelley Blue Book executive analyst Rebecca Lindland said.
She called Manley a “worthy replacement at FCA, but it’s a huge job to not only fill Sergio’s shoes, but to run many brands that are facing capricious fortunes in a variety of markets.”
Manley took over management of the Jeep brand in 2009, just after Chrysler emerged from bankruptcy protection. At the time, the all-SUV Jeep was mainly a US brand, where annual sales languished at about 232,000. However, by last year sales had nearly quadrupled to more than 828,000 as people in the US market snapped up all-wheel-drive SUVs. The brand also grew internationally, especially in China, under Manley.
Other brands that have been driving the company’s revenues include the premium brands Maserati and Alfa Romeo. The passenger-car brands of Fiat and Chrysler have been less profitable.
Marchionne made his last major presentation as CEO of Fiat Chrysler last month, unveiling the company’s plans through 2022. He announced a major investment thrust to make more electrified cars, even though he said traditional engines will continue to dominate production.
The next corporate results are to be released on July 25.
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