At the Stellantis-Government meeting

Jean-Philippe Imparato, the French manager who loves Made in Italy

Ever since he discovered that he has Italian origins, his grandfather was from Gaeta, he has made the Bel Paese a priority, which he knows very well having worked there first at Citroen Italia and then at Alfa Romeo

17 December 2024

3' min read

Imparato made his automotive debut in 1991 within the PSA group with Peugeot-Citroen, where he held numerous positions of responsibility in France and abroad, including China. Among the most relevant was his leadership as ceo of Peugeot, a role that ensured not only significant commercial successes, but also an increasingly strong position for the French brand on the international market.

At the head of Citroen's Italian subsidiary
From 2008 to 2010 Jean-Philippe Imparato led the Italian subsidiary of the French double chevron brand. It was a particularly positive moment for the brand given the great success of the first generation of the C3, which saw Italy become the second most important market in Europe immediately after France and the first for the most versatile of the C3's variants at the time, the Plurier.

Not just a car brand manager

Born in Sète in the south of France to a family that passed on to him a dedication to his work. Passionate about engines and with a soft spot for historic Italian brands that he considers part of a heritage to be preserved and enhanced. In addition to motors, he loves music and gastronomy. It is a combination of French rigour and Italian passion that makes Imparato unique among the many industry leaders in the automotive sector.

Stellantis, Imparato: "A Mirafiori nuova generazione 500"

A manager especially Peugeot from the beginning

It is almost certainly him, Jean-Philippe Imparato, 58 years of French birth but Italian by adoption, the federator Carlos Tavares had in mind before leaving Stellantis. Having secured the Biscione with just two models, first the Tonale and then the Junior, passed unscathed by the name change shortly after its presentation, he is preparing to become the manager who will be remembered for having secured the Italian market for Stellantis.

From ceo of Alfa Romeo to leading Europe

He may not have imagined it, but perhaps he did that the boss meant Carlos Tavares, whose consolidated right-hand man he was, was thinking of him after his sudden departure from the group. Prepared he is, but he certainly had hoped to take care of the Italian patient full-time. This can be guessed from one of his first statements: 'My obsession is to continue producing in Italy. He also reiterated this at Mimit to Minister Urso.

The most difficult task within the group

If he is not the one to succeed Carlos Tavares at the helm of Stellantis, he certainly has the most difficult task within the group. Solving the hot potato of a sector that in Italy now appears to be out of control, between closed factories and a future to be planned. A change of pace is needed, which is already a good viaticum, but above all answers and concrete commitments. It will not be easy, but this is what the trade union representatives expect from him.

Mission impossible? Not for Jean-Philippe Imparato

Among the first promises put together in the few days available in the aftermath of Tavares' exit from the group, Imparato confirmed that no factories will be closed and there will be no redundancies, and then that there will be the new 500 generation that gives a future perspective until 2033. But that is not all, as the federator also announced that Maserati will have a new, much more structured plan.