09:22 – Sergio Marchionne, the fisted boss who saved Fiat

The boss of Fiat Chrysler (FCA) and Ferrari, the Italian-Canadian Sergio Marchionne, whose illness precipitated the departure, is a tough man who has straightened the Fiat group in 14 years to make it a mastodon

Little known in 2004 when he arrived at the direction of the Turin-based manufacturer, then on the edge of the abyss, he managed to conquer politicians, media and trade unionists in Italy, all fascinated by his ability to save the largest group of the country without mbadive job cuts.

In 2009, he added an international dimension to the Italian brand in alliance with the American Chrysler with the aim of making the group one of the world's leading car manufacturers, which recorded record results in 2017

The 66-year-old workaholic was preparing to take his hand in 2019, but according to a FCA statement, his state of health suddenly deteriorated a few weeks after an operation and he will not be able to resume his work. functions

Reluctantly, FCA, Ferrari and CNH Industrial, the three groups controlled by the Agnelli family, thus spread over four different personalities – including a woman – all the caps he wore [19659002] – Frankly speaking and iron fist –

Cost reduction, new models, attention to design: in 2005, this manager with a round face and a hoarse smoker's voice – he stopped last year according to the Italian press -, made so Red Fiat after four years of losses.

Admittedly, his Anglo-Saxon culture and his outspokenness creaked his teeth in the peninsula, where Fiat remains the first private employer.

Thus, his decision to close the Termini Imerese plant at the end of 2011 Sicily and its willingness to condition investments in Italy to greater flexibility of social agreements shook the country.

Behind the absence of manners and the apparent relaxation of the character almost always dressed in a dark sweater, hides an implacable boss who, as soon as he arrived at Fiat, dismissed dozens of hierarchs and put forward a team of young leaders.

"I continuously evaluate my collaborators, give them notes and I tell them + attention: to whoever sits, I remove the chair +", he says.

In 2014, he has even defeated Luca Cordero de Montezemolo, the archetype of the "Italian-style" bosses at the head of Ferrari for nearly a quarter of a century.

Their joint conference was then not lacking of piquancy, between the aristocrat in costume and the child of Abruzzo become "self-made-man" in Canada, where his family emigrated when he was 14.

"I spoke English with a strong Italian accent It took me more than six years to lose it, six years lost with the girls, "he confided in May 2009.

Never giving in to his body, Sergio Marchionne not hesitated to impose infernal rates on his teams to take speed competition, as when he decided to advance three months the launch of the new Fiat 5 00 in 2007.

– Chrysler, his master stroke –

And during the crisis of 2008, he does not lose a minute to adapt. While he swore by the "targeted alliances", tied on a case by case basis since the divorce of Fiat with the American General Motors in 2005, he trumpets that a choice is necessary: ​​to grow or die.

In January 2009, Fiat announces its proposed alliance with Chrysler. In June, the American leaves bankruptcy, Fiat takes operational control without paying a dime and Marchionne becomes the general manager.

The boss then immediately reveals his plan to buy the German Opel but he loses the battle against the Canadian Magna.

His last public appearance was on June 27, when he handed a Jeep to the carabinieri of Rome: "My father was a marshal of carabinieri, I always find the values ​​I grew up with and who are at the base of my education: seriousness, honesty, sense of duty, discipline, spirit of service. "

Divorced and father of two, Mr. Marchionne studied philosophy, law and management in Canada and began his career as a tax specialist for Deloitte and Touche.

Prior to joining Fiat, he was General Manager of the Swiss group SGS, the world's number one certification company, of which he is still president.