Italian Automotive Executive of the Year 2007

The title of Italiaspeed Executive of the Year 2007 went once again to Fiat Group CEO Sergio Marchionne (2,667) who, having led a turnaround in fortunes at the automaker, built on this solid base this year: profits were up, revenue was up and the share price was up. Second went to Luca De Meo (1,281) who led the re-launch of both the Abarth brand and the Fiat 500 before becoming group marketing chief while third went to Fiat Chairman Luca di Montezemolo (1,260), Italy’s most famous businessman and entrepreneur.

Sergio Marchionne
Last year Fiat Group CEO Sergio Marchionne was the runaway winner in our 'Executive of the Year' category. This year the Fiat Group has posted profits in all three financial quarters reported so far, seen a surging shareprice, dividend payments restored, new industrial alliances struck across the world, analysts forecasts beaten, bonds issued, and future targets raised - these are the yardsticks by which any CEO worth his salt is judged. Marchionne has come through with flying colours, he saved Fiat from impending doom, now he plans to turn it into a global force to be reckoned with. Along the way he has remained boss of the automotive division which in January thrust Fiat back into the hotly contested C-segment with the Bravo, and in the summer unveiled the only car that the world is talking about this year - the 500.

Luca de Meo
Considered a star within the Fiat Group, Luca De Meo had another very busy year. Steering the fortunes of the Fiat brand once more, he oversaw a string of key events during the year. That started off in January with the introduction of the Bravo. Then his attention turned to the event of the automotive year - the launch of the 500 on 4th July. The success of the 500 has been nothing short of sensational and it needs no introduction here; needless to say it gained the ultimate accolade last month when it comfortably collected Car of the Year award. De Meo also oversaw the relaunch of the Abarth brand as a standalone division within Fiat Group Automobiles. On September 18th the 45-year-old was promoted to a newly formed post, Chief Marketing Officer for the whole Fiat Group, his marketing responsibilities spreading out to also include Iveco and CNH.

Luca Cordero di Montezemolo
Chairman of Fiat Group, Luca Cordero di Montezemolo continued to play a leading role in improving the fortunes of the carmaker this year. Italy's most famous businessman, di Montezemolo is also the Chairman of Confindustria. After masterminding Italy's hosting of the 1990 FIFA Football World Cup he was put in charge of the Ferrari divison by Giovanni Agnelli. In May 2004 he became Chairman of Confindustria, and days later, following the death of Umberto Agnelli, he was appointed Chairman of Fiat Group, while retaining his role as President of Ferrari.

Alfredo Altavilla
As head of Fiat Auto Business Development, Alfredo Altavilla has been involved in signing the recent deals Fiat Auto have entered with other carmakers. Altavilla wound up his successful stint as CEO of Tofaş, Fiat's joint venture in Turkey, a tenure that has seen this manufacturing base assume greater strategic global importance. Altavilla has completed his first year as CEO position at Fiat Powertrain Technologies, the division responsible for Fiat's engine and transmission development and production.

Andrea Pininfarina
Under the chairmanship of Andrea Pininfarina, Pininfarina has undergone an unprecedented financial and industrial effort due to the start up of production of 5 new models (Alfa Romeo Brera / Spider, Ford Focus CC, Mitsubishi Colt CZC and Volvo C70), which was acheived without compromising Pininfarina's traditional commitment and dedication to innovation and diversification. An example of this is the new T-Belt windtunnel system and the return to one-off car production such as the Ferrari 612 Scaglietti "K" and the Ferrari P4/5.

Antonio Baravalle
Antonio Baravalle is the driving force behind turning the Alfa 8C Competizione into a full production reality, and for this reason alone he deserves the effusive thanks of Alfisti worldwide. In 2007 Baravalle has been concentrating on improving Alfa Romeo marketshare in key European markets such as the UK and Germany. Having demonstrated that his heart and passion are clearly in the right place, he pushed ahead with the relaunch of Alfa Romeo in the USA, as well as the development of the exciting entry-level 'Junior' model which will be launched in 2008. A former marketing boss at Alfa Romeo, Baravalle has been CEO for two years.

Cledorvino Belini
Cledorvino Belini is the CEO of Fiat Automòveis, the autonomous Latin American division of Fiat Auto, which is focused around a huge manufacturing plant at Belo Horizonte in Brazil. Fiat Automòveis, under Belini's guidance, is now the biggest carmaker in Brazil and providing much needed profits. Belini introduced the new Punto this summer, which now has a waiting list, in order to move Fiat Automòveis more upmarket with the introduction of higher quality and cutting-edge infotelematics. Belini's ambition is to raise Brazilian production to 1 million units by 2010.

Frank Stephenson
Frank Stephenson is now managing the Alfa Romeo Styling Centre under the reigning control of Lorenzo Ramaciotti. Stephenson resumes responsibility from Wolfgang Egger who left for Audi in April. Before his move to Alfa Romeo, Frank Stephenson managed the Fiat / Lancia / Fiat Professional Styling Centres and oversaw development of the Fiat Bravo and Fiat 500, both of which made their production debuts this year. Now Stephenson is putting the final touches on the compact Alfa Romeo 'Junior' which will make its debut in 2008.

Jason Castriota
Jason Casriota is Chief Designer Special Projects at Pininfarina. After putting his name to a host of high-profile Ferraris in 2006, including the highly sensual 599 GTB Fiorano, awesome P4/5 and the 612 "K", the young Italo-American created a stirr at the Geneva Motor Show with the design of the Maserati GranTurismo. The glamorous GranTurismo was inspired by the Maserati Birdcage 75th concept car, another exotic creation from Castriota's portfolio. Jason also picked up the award for the best concept car at the annual Villa d'Este Concorso d'Eleganza. Jason Castriota's burgeoning creativity has resulted in an industry reputation that most other senior designers can only aspire to.

Jean Todt
Promoted last year to MD of Ferrari's roadcar division Todt was busy looking for a successor as boss of the race team, and with the favourite - Ross Brawn - choosing to take a sabattical, he was still in charge this year on a temporary basis. However he signed off his tenure in charge in impressive style having managed the team to yet another double as well as steering the team through the 'espionage' saga: the drivers' (Kimi Raikkonen) and constructors' titles. With the confirmation last month that Stefano Domenicali has been promoted to Director of 'Gestione Sportiva' for 2008, Todt has brought to a winning conclusion an unprecedentedly successful period in charge.

Lorenzo Ramaciotti
In June, Lorenzo Ramaciotti took on responsibility for managing the style centres of all Fiat Group Automobile brands (Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Lancia, Abarth) as well as for Maserati, and reports directly to Sergio Marchionne from the new Officina 83 style centre at Mirafiori. Ramaciotti joined Pininfarina in 1973 and was soon charged with the responsibility for realising models and prototypes. In 1982 he was appointed Deputy Manager of Pininfarina Studi e Ricerche at Cambiano, six years later he became General Manager and in 1994 he became a member of the Board of Directors. In 2002 he was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Pininfarina Ricerca e Sviluppo S.p.A. During the 17-year-period in which he headed Pininfarina design, he developed approximately 20 concept cars and directed projects of successful automobiles on behalf of several important manufacturers.

Michael Schumacher
After an unprecedented seven world titles, Michael Schumacher hung up his F1 racing helmet this year with his place in Ferrari history assured. However he still had a busy year at Maranello as he took up a new role in the development of road and racing cars. His first road-going fruit was the 430 Scuderia, which was launched to wide applaud at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September. The German's involvement with the car includes details such as the seperate sports mode and suspension switch. He also led the development of the FXX programme which culminated in the launch of the FXX Evolution for 2008/9. Last month he tested a MotoGP Ducato GP7 and also made his return to the F1 cockpit in Barcelona as he helped the Scuderia gear up for the revised regulations next year, sensationally setting fastest time on both days he took to the track.

Olivier François
Olivier François has one of the toughest jobs within Fiat Group Automobiles: reviving the fortunes of Lancia. He became CEO just over two years ago and his first year in charge coincided with the marque's 100th anniversary, a sober and reflective moment, that is now backed up by renewed financial committment by Fiat to its future. His tasks have involved finding a distinct market where Lancia can flourish and to overhaul the European network in order to reduce the brand's unhealthy dependence on Italian sales. He has also championed the new Musa and is readying the critical new Delta HPE which will be launched next year, as well as a brand return to the UK.

Stefan Winkelmann
Lamborghini President and CEO Stephan Winkelmann, appointed to the job in 2005, has overseen another year of strong growth for Lamborghini, with delivery expected to rise by 15 pecent to around 2,400 units. First half revenues were up by more than 50 percent to 222 million euros while gross profit came in at 2,436 million euros, a year-on-year rise of 40.2 percent. These results are all records for the brand (the first quarterly profit under Audi ownership was posted in 2005) and Winkelmann has confirmed this progress will be replicated during the second half. Profit margins will hit double figures this year as the CEO continues with his avowed strategy of turning Lamborghini into the world's most profitable luxury sportscar maker. This year also saw the introduction of two powerful, limited-edition models: the Gallardo Superleggera (Geneva) and Reventón (Frankfurt).

Italian Automotive Executive of the Year 2006
For the title of Executive of the Year could there be any other winner than Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne (2,246) as he took pride in masterminding one of the fastest turnarounds in automotive history. Legendary Italian designer Giorgetto Giugiaro (1,878) kept his pen busy as usual in 2006, and he was second ahead of Alfa Romeo brand CEO Antonio Baravalle (1,060) who probably picked up many of his votes simply on the strength of personally giving the Alfa 8C Competizione the green light.