Who is Jean-Philippe Imparato, the manager who has to make Stellantis smile

Tavares' farewell opens a new season for Stellantis and Imparato is perhaps the right manager to rebuild the image in Europe

Photo by: Stellantis

By: Fabio Gemelli

Dec 11, 2024 at 5:14am ET

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How much do you like Stellantis from 1 to 10? If someone were to commission a survey with such a question, the results would be dramatic. Public perception of the car giant is at an all-time low, weighed down by tensions with trade unions, complicated relations with governments and a dealer network on the warpath, frustrated by the delayed arrival of new models.

The vase has overflowed in recent days, and the departure of CEO Carlos Tavares was the first direct consequence. While it is true that the results of his business plan can only be evaluated in the long term, in the short term there is one area in which the Portuguese manager has been flunked without appeal: his communication skills.

We do not know whether a file entitled 'Operation Sympathy' has been officially opened in the board of directors of Stellantis, chaired by John Elkann, but it is clear that a change of pace in this sense has become a strategic priority. A priority that also passes through the choice of key managers, and among them is a figure we will hear more and more about in the coming months: Jean-Philippe Imparato.

An empathetic leader for a challenge is huge

Imparato, now Chief Operating Officer for Europe, was Tavares' trusted man, but at the same time represents his antithesis. With his warm, friendly smile and an approach that focuses more on dialogue than authoritarian leadership, he could really bring about the change in style that Stellantis needs. Both internally and externally.

The challenges ahead are enormous: reorganising factories, tackling the electric vehicle transition, rebuilding frayed relationships and, last but not least, convincing the market that Stellantis has a vision for the future.

Jean-Philippe Imparato, the new face of Alfa Romeo and Stellantis

In recent days Imparato has wasted no time and has moved swiftly, giving interviews in newspapers and on TV (where he also confirmed Italian production of the new Fiat 500), and announcing a packed agenda of institutional meetings, with a key stop in Italy on 17 December. It will be an important test bench, because our country is home to many of the group's historic brands - Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Lancia - and a significant slice of its workforce.

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But will it be enough? The challenge is complex and success is not a foregone conclusion. For now, the focus is on his first moves.

From Alfa Romeo to European leadership

Jean-Philippe Imparato is no stranger to difficult tasks. His work on Alfa Romeo since 2021 has been a minor miracle: he has taken a loss-making brand with a non-existent range and an unclear future and rebooted it in small steps. He corrected the situation and launched the Tonale SUV, the brand's first hybrid model, and laid the foundations for a range that will see the arrival of one new model a year over the next few years, until 2026 with the new Giulia and Stelvio.

Alfa Romeo Stelvio (2026), the render by Motor1.com

To understand Imparato's approach at the time of Alfa Romeo, we reproduce the interview we conducted back in 2021:

Not Tavares' successor (for now)

The other big unknown is the future of Stellantis' leadership. With the exit of Tavares, a veritable guessing game has opened to identify the group's next CEO. Imparato, however, has called himself out, declaring that he 'does not feel fit' for the role. A gesture of humility that made him even more popular, but which may not be enough to close the matter.

Former CEO Carlos Tavares

Photos by: Stellantis

Jean-Philippe Imparato at the Alfa Romeo Tribe Days 2023

Some observers suggest that if he proves to be able to successfully manage the sensitive European market, Imparato might actually earn that position 'on the ground'. After all, Stellantis needs a human face, and he is one of the few managers who seem to embody this quality.

Waiting for answers, Stellantis relies on dialogue

For now, Jean-Philippe Imparato represents a breath of fresh air in a group that needed a change of narrative. But his mission will not be easy, and the results of his first moves will be crucial to understand whether he is really the right man for the moment.

While waiting to know Tavares' official successor, Imparato has the task of holding the pieces of an evolving group together. If he succeeds, he might even conquer the main stage. For now, however, everything depends on how he will meet this great challenge. And perhaps his smile will be the secret weapon that will help him make the difference.

Italian roots and a passion for work (and more)

Jean-Philippe Imparato has always spoken proudly of his Italian origins. Born in 1966 in Sète, in the south of France, his family comes from Apulia, a region that has passed on to him fundamental values such as community ties, the importance of family and dedication to work. "My Italian roots are always with me," he has stated on several occasions, emphasising how much the Mediterranean culture has also influenced him in his leadership style, making him more empathetic and close to people.

Jean-Philippe Imparato unveils the Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale

But Imparato is not just a businessman. His passion for cars is not exclusively professional: he is a true motoring enthusiast, with a particular soft spot for historic Italian brands, which he considers 'part of a heritage to be preserved and enhanced'. In addition to motors, he loves music and describes himself as a curious explorer of gastronomy, with a predilection for the simple but authentic dishes of the Apulian tradition. This combination of French rigour and Italian passion makes him unique among industry leaders.

"My passions? Cars, people and, of course, good food,' he said with his trademark smile. A mix that could prove to be a winning one for a task that is as complex as it is stimulating: revitalising Stellantis.

A Peugeot man with lots of experience

Browsing through his career, we discover that Imparato began in 1991 within the PSA Peugeot Citroën group, where he held numerous positions of responsibility in France and abroad, including China.

His most notable assignments include leading the Peugeot brand as CEO since 2016, a role in which he consolidated the brand's positioning and achieved significant commercial successes, and leading the Alfa Romeo brand since 2021, where he worked to relaunch the iconic Italian brand, restoring it to its former glory.