Altavilla Named to Fix Fiat’s European Unit

Fiat SpA has appointed Alfredo Altavilla as chief operating officer of the company's unit for Europe, Africa and the Middle East (EMEA), effective immediately.

Altavilla succeeds Gianni Coda, who is retiring after 33 years at Fiat. CEO Sergio Marchionne has declared that reviving the company's European business is Fiat's top priority.

Altavilla will continue to serve as executive vice president for business development, a job he has held since October 2011. He also is a member of the Group Executive Council that oversees Fiat's day-to-day operations with affiliate Chrysler Group.

In his new job, Altavilla will be accountable for EMEA's manufacturing, marketing and profitability. Fiat lost €573 million before interest and taxes in the region during the first nine months of 2012. Sales there dropped 16% to 764,000 vehicles.

Altavilla joined Fiat Auto in 1990 and in a series of jobs headed the company's units for Asia, Turkey, powertrain and Iveco trucks. He also was coordinator of Fiat's ill-fated alliance with General Motors Co. in the early 2000s.