One of the great sponsors of French industry wanted to retire from business before the summer, with the feeling of duty accomplished and the will to devote himself entirely to his generous associative life. Six years after his arrival as chairman of the PSA supervisory board, then in addition to this unfortunate posture, Louis Gallois had in April 2018 decided to drop this title at the next general meeting of the group. At 76, it was time. He had then accepted a new mandate , but only for two years, instead of four. “For reasons of age,” said the press release from PSA.
John Elkann for the sequel
The ace ! The current marriage with Fiat Chrysler, formalized last December, has upset the program of the former boss of the SNCF and EADS. It will ultimately remain the time necessary for the Franco-Italian merger. In the union contract between the two groups, the role of chairman of the board fell to John Elkann, the strong man of the Agnelli family , which will be the largest shareholder in the group. A sense of duty, no doubt. The difficulty of finding a successor for a few months, surely.
Louis Gallois will therefore be the first to witness the articulation between the two groups, and that of their shareholders. In recent years, the leader has formed an effective duo with Carlos Tavares. PSA is today one of the most profitable car manufacturers, and stands before the automotive crisis that is starting with more certainty than ever.