Stellantis has announced that it will reveal the successor to Carlos Tavares by the end of June, and former CEO of Seat and Cupra, Wayne Griffiths, seems to be well positioned to succeed the Portuguese leader, who unexpectedly left the helm of the world’s fourth-largest car manufacturer at the end of 2024.
According to “Automobilwoche,” John Elkann, chairman of Stellantis’ Board of Directors, has already met with Wayne Griffiths, who unexpectedly stepped down as CEO of Seat and Cupra at the end of March.
The same publication reports that John Elkann was initially excited about the idea but later expressed some skepticism due to Griffiths having a differing opinion on the company’s condition and prospects.
Despite the differences in opinion, part of Stellantis, particularly in the U.S., appears to support Griffiths in the race to succeed Carlos Tavares. So far, Stellantis has not taken an official position on the matter.
It is worth noting that it was recently reported that John Elkann had a list of five candidates to succeed Carlos Tavares, who resigned as CEO of Stellantis after nearly four years, amid a decline in electric vehicle sales and increased competition from Chinese car manufacturers.
In the race to succeed Tavares, there are still two executives from Stellantis who are also considered potential successors. One of them is Antonio Filosa, who is responsible for the group’s business in North and South America, and also holds the position of Chief of Quality, being well-connected within the company.
The other candidate is Maxime Picat. The group’s global purchasing director, who has played an important role in France for a long time, is known for his strategic vision and operational insight.
A final decision regarding the succession of Carlos Tavares is expected to be made by the Special Committee of the Board of Directors by the end of the first half of 2025.
