Sergio Marchionne

Few people can say they saved an automotive icon from the brink of bankruptcy. Fewer can say that they did this all in a matter of 10 years. What Sergio Marchionne did with Fiat Chrysler changed the automotive industry forever. His pragmatic nononsense leadership style made for a businessman that demanded success from those who worked with him, while those closest to him saw a man with a dream for success.

At a time when the automotive industry was facing a dreadful recession, many thought that Chrysler would fail, be liquidated and be gone forever. What those people lacked though, was the vision of Marchionne. His master plan to acquire partial ownership and soon full ownership put Marchionne in for the long haul, a challenge he was willing to accept.

At the helm of a company in desperation, Marchionne did what all the best leaders do: lead. When Marchionne took over Fiat in 2004, the CEO streamlined communications, addressed leadership problems and improved administration processes. Marchionne’s take-over turned Fiat back into

streamlined communications, addressed leadership problems and improved administration processes. Marchionne’s take-over turned Fiat back into a reliable and productive enterprise. His leadership tactics and hardball corporate negotiations turned heads in the automotive industry, but his concern was always about what there was to do next. Acquiring Chrysler in an unprecedented business deal, Marchionne rebranded, killing the small car production and promoting and redesigning all Jeep models. His demand for perfection while working extremely long hours led to Fiat Chrysler’s returning to stable profi ts and thousands of employees' jobs saved.

These incredible achievements all stem from a man with no experience with cars. He was not the typical CEO, never donning a suit and never falling back on logistical jargon when answering reporter questions. But none of that mattered. Fiat Chrysler saw stability and profi ts as their future with Marchionne’s leadership along with his other quirks and traits.

Marchionne often and willingly spoke his mind, weaving the teachings of the great philosophers into his responses. He wore the same black sweater and jeans combination regardless of where he was going and who he was meeting. He made the fi nal call and stood by his decisions despite the insurmountable risks and was rewarded equally with success.

However, even with the best of planning and strategy, the unfortunate happens. Sergio Marchionne passed away at the age of 66 in 2018. There is something about being considered one of the greatest in business that makes someone seem untouchable, that the world’s reality does not exist for them. With this in mind, Marchionne’s passing feels especially heartbreaking. Those who worked with Marchionne knew him as the serious businessman who had a severe addiction to working. But there was a side a privileged few got to see, Marchionne the friend and Marchionne the man. He was an enigma to those trying to get in closer, but Marchionne was a master at keeping his cards close to his chest. For all his quirks, beliefs, and leadership methods, there is one thing that can unequivocally be said about Sergio Marchionne. He was an automotive executive legend that left us far too soon.

co-chair: SAM CICCOLINI | co-chair: GIORGIO BEGHETTO BOB SACCO, CRISTIANO DE FLORENTIIS, JOSEPH CAVALLO, JULIAN FANTINO, MADELINE ZITO, MARA CATALDI, PAL DI IULIO, REMO FERRI, ROCCO GROSSI, STEPHEN ARBIB,YALDA RIAHI

Together, we proudly honour Sergio Marchionne’s legacy and contributions to the Italian-Canadian community.

The Cristina Ciccolini Memorial Fund