Restructuring of Executive Leadership Team at Stellantis South America Unveiled
Stellantis Shakes Up South American Operations with Executive Appointments
In a significant move, automotive giant Stellantis has undergone a facelift in its South American operations during the fourth quarter of 2023. The changes involve nearly a dozen new executive appointments under six of its automotive brands.
Antonio Filosa, who was South America COO since 2021, took a major step in his rising leadership within Stellantis's South American operations when he was appointed CEO of the Jeep brand in November 2023. Filosa, who had an extensive background in Fiat and Stellantis Latin America operations, including roles as plant manager in Brazil and head of Argentina operations, has been a key figure in the company's South American operations.
Filosa's appointment as Jeep CEO was part of a broader leadership evolution that culminated with his appointment as Stellantis global CEO, effective June 2025. During this period, Stellantis also restructured quality leadership, appointing Sébastien Jacquet as chief quality officer, succeeding Filosa who moved on to broader operational roles.
In Brazil, Herlander Zola is overseeing the new executive appointments. Zola, who is the senior VP of commercial operations for Stellantis Brazil and head of light commercial vehicle (LCV) operations in South America, is reporting to Emanuele Cappellano, the new CEO of Stellantis South America, who assumed the position in November.
Under Zola's leadership, Hugo Domingues is heading Fiat and Abarth, previously serving as Marketing VP for Fiat and Abarth. Raquel Ribeiro is heading Ram operations in Brazil, having previously served as retail business manager for Fiat. Gustavo Azambuja is now heading commercial operations for Peugeot and Citroën in Brazil, having been the commercial director for Jeep and Ram prior to his current role.
Other key appointments include Alexandre Aquino, who is now heading Jeep in South America, previously holding the position of VP of Jeep. Frederico Fialho heads Program and Product Planning for Stellantis, previously focused on Cross Car Line and Project Engineering. Fabio Meira is VP of direct sales and the company's director representing LCVs for Stellantis. Juliano Machado is leading the Ram team.
The changes in South America mark a significant step for Stellantis as it continues to evolve and adapt to the changing automotive landscape. With these new appointments, the company is poised to continue its growth and success in the region.
