The late Sergio Marchionne has been named the World Car Person of the Year.
More than 80 World Car Awards (WCA) jurors from 24 countries collectively decided by secret ballot the automotive industry titan who died last year should get the award, announced at the Geneva Motor Show, March 7-17.
At the time of his death aged 66 in July 2018, Marchionne was chief executive officer of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), chairman of CNH Industrial and chairman and chief executive officer of Ferrari.
Recently appointed FCA president and chief executive officer Mike Manley accepted the trophy on behalf of his former boss at the Geneva show.
“He was not one for pomp or fuss, preferring instead duty to the company he led for 14 years and the nurturing of a leadership team to take his legacy forward,” Manley says.
His prestigious World Car Person of the Year award recognises his accomplishment in taking two declining, regionally-focused companies and forging them into one profitable global entity.
In addition, he spun off Ferrari as a highly successful separate business, solidifying the future of that iconic brand. And, shortly before his death, he set FCA on a defined five-year course to ensure its continued success.
Marchionne was – and still is – widely regarded as one of the ultimate ‘car guys’ of the modern motoring era.
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