While it debates what continent will house the headquarters of the newly merged Fiat-Chrysler, the company’s board cleared up its near-term leadership questions by extending Sergio Marchionne’s employment contract for three years.
Marchionne told reporters at the North American International Auto Show today that succession planning is a major issue for Chrysler, which is one of the key reasons he agreed to the extension. Previously he had suggested he would be ready to leave by the end of 2015.
“This issue about succession is a big, big issue in the group,” he said. “I am very proud of the leadership group we have assembled. But I’ve got to make sure there are replacement parts on hand. We worry about these things all the time.
“We would never expect to make an external hire. Our culture is different and we’ve spent a lot of time nurturing that culture.”
With the leadership issue resolved, the board can focus on determining the location of the company’s headquarters.
The fact the headquarters of the combined company could move to the U.S. has stirred up a large measure of anxiety in Italy, Fiat’s birthplace and home for more than a century. Marchionne, however, patiently explained to reporters the headquarters primary function would not change the operations at Fiat or Chrysler.
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“We need to be careful when we talk about the headquarters. When we talk about headquarters, we’re talking about legal domicile and access. But they don’t impact the way the company is run. We look at capital on a global scale,” said Marchionne, who said he personally favor the shares of the combined company be listed on the New York Stock Exchange as well as the benefits that come with it. “We’re not one of the big but we are large enough where we need access to largest capital markets.”
As for the permanence of a headquarters, it’s less important to Marchionne due to the nature of his job.
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“Talking about headquarters is almost an anachronism today because power travels. I live on an airplane. It doesn’t make any difference to me. I spend a lot of time in North America and I spend a lot of time in Europe,” he said, adding while Fiat has extensive operations in South America, the headquarters is unlikely to migrate to Argentina or Brazil.
