Stellantis is reshuffling its European deck again — and this time the move is a loud one. Jean-Philippe Imparato, one of the group’s most recognisable executives, is walking away after 36 years. A whole era closes in a single line of a press release.
Imparato joined the PSA structure back in the early 1990s and became one of the key figures of the Stellantis era. He ran Peugeot, spearheaded the Alfa Romeo relaunch, then took charge of Maserati and Stellantis & You. Where he goes next — nobody’s saying yet.
From 1 July, the group is rolling out a new European structure. Santo Ficili has been named CEO of Maserati while keeping the top job at Alfa Romeo. The pairing is no accident: both brands are standing at a crossroads, and in the coming weeks Stellantis is expected to unveil a new industrial plan for Maserati and Alfa Romeo. Putting the two marques under one leader is a shot at tighter cost control and real synergy. Only the task itself is anything but straightforward.
Alfa Romeo has to stay an emotional, sporty brand with mainstream reach. Maserati — a premium name a class above, where any cost-cutting can’t look like cheapening. Walking that tightrope will be a daily job.
Stellantis & You goes to Luca Napolitano, appointed head of sales and services. He previously ran Lancia, then handed the brand over to Roberta Zerbi — another chapter in the recent boardroom shuffle.
Napolitano and Ficili will report directly to Emanuele Cappellano, COO for Enlarged Europe and European Brands and head of Stellantis Pro One.
Cappellano thanked Imparato for his years with the group: “I would like to extend my sincere thanks to Jean-Philippe for his unparalleled contribution to our company, in which he spent his entire professional life. Jean-Philippe has been a true example of how to combine passion with business, inspiring people with his daily commitment and deep knowledge of the automotive industry.”
But for Stellantis this is far more than a name change on an org chart. Maserati and Alfa Romeo are approaching the moment when they’ll have to tell the market what they want to be over the next few years. Expensive and electric? Sporty and niche? Or something more pragmatic than before? Imparato’s departure only sharpens the question.
