Stellantis has appointed Michael Filazzola to the role of managing director, Australia, encompassing the Jeep, Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Fiat Professional and Abarth brands.
Filazzola will commence his new role on March 20, 2023.
He replaces Kevin Flynn who, after 47 years in the automotive industry, has decided to retire to spend more time with his family in South Africa.
For more than three decades, Flynn worked across multiple countries and brands including Lexus, BMW, Jaguar Land Rover and Porsche before joining Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) to lead the India team in 2015.
Stellantis Senior Vice President, India and Asia Pacific Region Billy Hayes, announced the appointment on February 22.
“With proven leadership capabilities and a diverse skillset, we are confident that Michael will continue to drive the growth and success of the Stellantis business in Australia,” Hayes says.
Filazzola has worked in the automotive and aftermarket industry for over 28 years, working across Australia, China and the Southeast Asia markets.
According to Stellantis, he has extensive knowledge of the automotive ecosystem, holding a variety of roles as a senior executive across sales, aftersales, customer experience, purchasing and supply chain, and product development while at General Motors, Holden Australia and Bapcor.
Most recently, he was the product development general manager at Bapcor, overseeing the growth of private brands within the aftermarket industry in Australia.
“I am looking forward to joining Stellantis and working with the team across its robust suite of brands. With the company focus moving towards electrification, and a new generation of vehicles from all brands being launched into the market, I feel like this is a great time to join Stellantis,” Filazzola says.
Flynn joined the Australian team in 2019, to lead Stellantis’ plan in market, with a focus on improving product quality and customer satisfaction. He successfully navigated the challenges of a global pandemic while achieving growth for the company in the Australian market.
Prior to taking on the role in Australia, Flynn was responsible for the overall development of the Jeep brand in India, while also establishing Jeep’s export strategy for all right-hand drive markets. Under his leadership, the Jeep brand was voted India’s most trusted automotive brand by the 2019 Brand Trust Report.
“I want to thank Kevin for his dedication and commitment to our business and the industry. He’s had an exemplary career and I, along with the rest of the Stellantis team, wish him the very best,” Hayes says.
