Young Fiat Chairman Elkann is Shaping the Company's Future

FiatFiatItaly, 1899 > present159 models
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CEO Sergio Marchionne receives most of the headlines when it comes to both Fiat and ChryslerChryslerUnited States of America, 1925 > present70 models
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, but the company’s 37-year-old chairman of the board John Elkann will play a major role in shaping its future. Elkann is the latest member of the Angelli family that has controlled Fiat for the last 115 years.

Marchionne spearheaded the Chrysler purchase and negotiated for years to get the deal done. However, Elkann was responsible for hiring Marchionne in 2004.

Buying Chrysler will allow Fiat to be truly international, and it will be one of the ten largest automakers in the world. The next step will be establishing itself in China.

Both Elkann and Marchionne agree that Fiat should move its headquarters to the US for the new Fiat-Chrysler Group.

Elkann’s next major job will be finding a replacement for Marchionne who will likely stay with the company for at least the next three years. It will be a difficult task because Marchionne kept Fiat out of bankruptcy and bought Chrysler.

"I've always known Fiat's life was very precarious. Today, I know we have a future that is much more positive than what we could have dreamed of some years ago,” said Elkann at the North American International Auto Show.

Source: Auto News Europe