John Elkann, who is taking the wheel at Jeep and Fiat owner Stellantis after the ouster of its CEO, is the discreet but steely heir to an Italian dynasty associated with Juventus, Ferrari and The Economist.
The 48-year-old billionaire manages the Agnelli family estate as chief executive of Exor, a holding company with stakes in the Serie A football club, the luxury car company and the business weekly.
The day after embattled Carlos Tavares was ousted with immediate effect from Stellantis on Sunday, Elkann was on a plane to the United States, his home country and once the group’s cash cow.
Dealerships there, as in Europe, are now struggling, leaving Stellantis — like car manufacturers across the board — in dire straits.
Exor is the main shareholder of Stellantis, a 15-brand behemoth born from the 2021 merger of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) and Peugeot-Citroen (PSA), with a fleet that includes …