COVID-19 impact FCA & Ferrari,: Two workers dead, Camilleri Retires. Manley and Paul Ive

[AlexB]

The tragic impact of COVID-19:

COVID-19 is hitting autoworkers at Fiat Chrysler Automobiles once again.

Two workers at Warren Truck Assembly have died recently, according to the company.
''FCA was saddened to learn of the recent deaths of two employees from our Warren Truck Assembly Plant and one employee from our Sterling Heights Assembly Plant. Based on our aggressive contact tracing protocols, we believe that these positive cases did not come from exposure inside the plants. In fact, one of the Warren Truck employees had not been in the plant since June when it shut down for retooling," FCA said in a statement Wednesday. That retooling was to allow the plant to prepare for production of the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer. ''
The toll from the pandemic has hit many areas beyond the automotive industry. Michigan counted 10,000 dead as of Tuesday, with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer ordering U.S. and Michigan flags to be flown at half-staff in honor of those who've died, according to Free Press reporting this week.

"As COVID-19 cases and deaths continue to rise across the country, no community, business or industry is immune to the impact of this virus. Like other companies, FCA is seeing this reflected in our workforce as well," the company said.

May their souls rest in peace.

COVID-19 hits FCA workers: 2 from Warren Truck, 1 from Sterling Heights dead

Fiat Chrysler said it believes the Warren Truck plant workers who died were exposed elsewhere.

www.freep.com

Ferrari NV Chief Executive Louis Camilleri resigned unexpectedly from the Italian luxury sports-car maker after being hospitalized for Covid-19.

On Thursday, Mr. Camilleri also resigned with immediate effect as chairman of Philip Morris International Inc. where he had been employed for four decades. Mr. Camilleri, 65, has left the hospital and is finishing his recovery at home, according to a person familiar with the situation. Ferrari said he had resigned for unspecified personal reasons.

John Elkann, Ferrari’s chairman and the head of the Italian family that owns a controlling stake in the car marker, will take over as CEO until a permanent replacement can be found. Mr. Camilleri is also resigning from Ferrari’s board.
Mr. Camilleri, took over Ferrari in July 2018 after Sergio Marchionne died from complications linked to surgery. Mr. Marchionne had come to symbolize both Ferrari and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles FCAU -0.54% NV, where he was also CEO. The freewheeling Mr. Marchionne, a larger-than-life figure who reigned over the car industry for years, left Mr. Camilleri a tough act to follow.
Because Mr. Camilleri had no car-industry experience when he took over Ferrari, many insiders assumed he would be a place holder CEO until a permanent replacement could be found. Yet he stayed on and had begun to leave his mark on Ferrari. He had started implementing a plan to turn Ferrari into a luxury-goods brand producing a range of products from cars to apparel and leather accessories.

He also had been tasked with steering Ferrari toward the production of electric vehicles, a move that was both inevitable and full of potential potholes. Ferrari has long distinguished itself through its stylish exteriors and interiors, but especially by its engine, something that will be less of a factor in electric cars. In an interview last year, his first after becoming CEO, he said batteries would be where Ferrari could again establish its dominance.

Ferrari CEO Louis Camilleri Resigns After Bout With Covid-19

Louis Camilleri, who took over Ferrari in 2018, stepped down unexpectedly from the Italian luxury sports-car maker after being hospitalized.

www.wsj.com

''Fiat Chrysler Chief Executive Mike Manley is in pole position to take over the top job at Ferrari, Italian daily Il Messaggero said on Saturday in an unsourced report.''
According to Il Messaggero, a board meeting at Ferrari next week could name a new CEO.

Ferrari is due to hold a pre-scheduled board meeting on Tuesday.

Fiat CEO Manley in pole position for top job at Ferrari - paper | Reuters

Apple CFO Luca Maestri and Apple former Chief Design Officer Jonathan Paul Ive as possible candidates.

Although Camilleri’s sudden departure comes at an unfortunate time for the carmaker, the appointment of a replacement was unlikely to be rushed.

“It will take the appropriate time,” a source close to the matter told Reuters.

Like Camilleri, who had years of experience in the tobacco and food industries before taking the helm at Ferrari, a new CEO need not necessarily be an automotive expert.

Ferrari is often seen by analysts and investors as a luxury goods maker rather than an automotive specialist, and as well as leading Ferrari’s ongoing effort to expand its vehicle line-up to hybrid technology, last year Camilleri launched a plan to widen the brand to apparel, accessories, entertainment offers, luxury products and services.

Ferrari's Camilleri will be a hard act to follow

Important choices to be made at Ferrari that could make changes at FCA/Stellantis due to COVID19. Now due to Exor's position at FCA (past legal statements that ''Exor runs FCA'' ), standard ''non-compete'' clauses won't exist. The reason why in the poll that I included Ralph is the fact that John & and Ferrari board is open to a designer as Ferrari CEO give the lifestyle/luxury goods Point-of-View Exor believes Ferrari. Now I also included Palmer ,Gorlier seems to be ''odd man out '' in the Stellantis's position, but been incredibly loyal to FIAT/FCA.

This would be Ferrari's Fourth CEO since FCA spinoff, but despite that the stock has been amazing and is worth more than BMW.

 

[Bili]

Alfredo Altavilla

 

[AlexB]

Alfredo Altavilla

Interesting choice, would require a ''make up'' between him and John.
Bloomberg is claiming Manley isn't in consideration , hyping up the Ferrari's board relationships with Apple: and luxury fashion:

The company is taking a thorough and deliberate approach to resolve its second leadership crisis in as many years, the people said. Ferrari’s board will meet Tuesday for a preliminary review of candidates for the role, they said, asking not to be named as the company’s plans aren’t public.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV Chief Executive Officer Mike Manley, who media reports have linked to the job, isn’t currently in the running, the people said. Manley has previously said he’ll stay at the Italian-American carmaker even after its planned merger with France’s PSA Group.
''The board already includes executives close to both the luxury and technology industries, including Louis Vuitton Executive Vice President Delphine Arnault and Apple Inc. Senior Vice President of Internet Software and Services Eddy Cue.''

Ferrari CEO Search May Take Months, Cover Non-Car Candidates - Bloomberg

Paul Ive is the lead,but will require a massive payoff to come.

 

[Bili]

Interesting choice, would require a ''make up'' between him and John.
Bloomberg is claiming Manley isn't in consideration , hyping up the Ferrari's board relationships with Apple: and luxury fashion:

Well... I don't consider Manley a product guy although he holds a mechanical engineering degree in addition to MBA. Tavares is another who is not a product guy although he led car developments in the past.

Late Sergio was a product guy although he was lawyer and accountant and has no connection to enginnering.

Italian media outlets came with Altavilla's name. The other was Davide Grasso who is currently Maserati COO and who was CEO of Converse before he'd joined Maserati.

My pick from FCA? It's very hard. I would be hazarder and say Harald Wester.

Originally I thought that Tavares may be the one and that they may want more than half a year. Wait for Stellantis merger completion.

 

[AlexB]

Well... I don't consider Manley a product guy although he holds a mechanical engineering degree in addition to MBA. Tavares is another who is not a product guy although he led car developments in the past.

Late Sergio was a product guy although he was lawyer and accountant and has no connection to enginnering.

Italian media outlets came with Altavilla's name. The other was Davide Grasso who is currently Maserati COO and who was CEO of Converse before he'd joined Maserati.

My pick from FCA? It's very hard. I would be hazarder and say Harald Wester.

Originally I thought that Tavares may be the one and that they may want more than half a year. Wait for Stellantis merger completion.

One project I do wonder about is the CUV, Sergio wanted to do the Ferrari CUV, but Camilleri seemed to ''back burner'' and stop discussing it .
Would be interesting if John uses Stellantis to make it a reality.