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Former Infiniti man is being replaced by Antonio Filosa who previously worked at Stellantis’ South American division from 2017-21
by Chris Chilton
September 29, 2023 at 06:07
Earlier this week Jeep was bragging about how its new European-market Avenger, the firm’s first full EV, was racking up 40,000 orders and outperforming the segment average. And we know that the Wrangler 4xe has proved phenomenally successful for the brand. But the bigger picture is less pretty. Jeep sales for 2022 were down 13 percent year-on-year to 1.1 million, representing the lowest total for the brand since 2014. And things don’t look any less ugly in 2023: sales are down a further 12 percent in the first half of the year.
There are external factors at work here, including much more intensive competition from rivals, such as Ford, whose Bronco is a direct threat to the fabled Wrangler, and a lack of EVs in the lineup. But, much like sports team coaches, car company CEOs know the buck stops with them, and this week Jeep announced that its top man, Christian Meunier, would be replaced by Antonio Filosa.
Meunier arrived from Infiniti in 2019 and has presided over the introduction of some important products such as the new Grand Cherokee and Wagoneer, Wrangler 4xe and the Avenger. And there are more coming, like the Recon, a tough electric Jeep. But Jeep now says the French exec, whose resumé lists stints at Ford, Land Rover, Mercedes and Nissan, will ‘take a long break to focus on personal interests.’
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Replacing him is Antonio Filosa, formerly a big cheese in Stellantis’ South American operation, but whose connection to the automaker stretches back to his first Fiat gig in 1999. Since leaving Stellantis in 2021 Filosa has been North American CEO at Italian fashion firm Marcolin Group.
Stellantis additionally used the same announcement to reveal that its India and Asia Pacific COO, Carl Smiley, would also be stepping aside ‘to prioritize his private life.’ More personal stuff? Well, whatever the real reason for Smiley’s departure, he’s being replaced by Ashwani Muppasani, president of Stellantis’ China National Sales Company since July 2022.
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