Not surprisingly, when – and if – Chrysler emerges from bankruptcy, Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne will be named chief of the “new” Chrysler, as well. Marchionne, who currently leads all of the Fiat Group’s operations, including its various car lines, orchestrated the Italian automaker’s no-cash acquisition of 20 percent of Chrysler.
Marchionne, an Italian-Canadian dual citizen, will take over for current Chrysler CEO Bob Nardelli, who has said that he will depart the position when the bankruptcy has been completed.
Born in Italy, Marchionne’s education was completed in Ontario, where he worked his way up the chain at several companies before moving back to Europe in the mid-1990s. He became a member of the board at Fiat before becoming the company’s chief in 2004. Marchionne is credited with essentially reinventing Fiat and orchestrating the Italian automaker’s massive turnaround.
