DETROIT — “Mediocrity is not worth the trip.”
That was part of incoming Stellantis
CEO Antonio Filosa’s first public message after being named to lead the global automaker. It was a mantra decades in the making, as he spent 25 years climbing through the company’s ranks, starting from a role as a night shift paint shop supervisor in Spain.
The quote also referenced late Fiat Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne, a mentor of Filosa’s who’s revered in the company. Marchionne unexpectedly died in 2018, years before the automaker merged to form Stellantis, the parent for brands such as Jeep, Ram, Fiat and Chrysler.
Several former and current Stellantis executives and employees who have worked with Filosa highlighted his connection to Marchionne when speaking with CNBC. They also described him as an engaging, collective leader who knows the business well, from the factory floors to C-suite offices, but who faces a slew of challenges and tests ahead.
