Fiat Chrysler is nearing the appointment of Pietro Gorlier, chief operating officer of its components business, as the new head of Europe as part of a broad reorganization that may be announced as early as this week, according to people familiar with the matter.
"Gorlier, a native of Turin, Italy, is the leading candidate to replace Alfredo Altavilla, who left the company at the end of August, after Fiat Chrysler Automobilies N.V.’s board picked Jeep head Mike Manley to succeed Sergio Marchionne, said the people, who asked not to be identified before a public announcement. A final decision hasn’t been made and other executives are still being considered, they added. Fiat declined to comment."
Gorlier, 55, oversees components makers Magneti Marelli and Mopar.
Gorlier was one of Marchionne’s closest aides. He joined Fiat in 1989 as a market analyst for its Iveco truck maker and moved to the parent company in 2006. When Fiat agreed to take management control of Chrysler in 2009, Gorlier was one of the few executives who moved from Turin to Detroit. In 2015 he was named head of Marelli and lead its turnaround as Fiat was preparing to spin off the unit.
The Italian manager will face a number of challenges: maintaining profit in the region that typically underperforms others at Fiat Chrysler amid price competition and lower margins; complete the transformation from mass-car production to more profitable Alfa Romeos and Maseratis, and moving from diesel to hybrid and electric cars, including at two engine plants in Italy.
