Jean-Marc Gales is the new CEO of Lotus
Group Lotus PLC has appointed a new CEO in the form of former Peugeot-Citroën president Jean-Marc Gales. On May 1, Gales replaced Aslam Farikullah, who will continue to be on the board of Lotus Cars Limited and keep contributing towards the company.
Gales (left) has replaced Aslam Farikullah, who will continue to be on the board of Lotus Cars Limited
Gales has extensive experience in the automotive industry and has held important offices at major automotive giants such as General Motors, Volkswagen AG and Daimler AG. He was president of Automobiles Citroën and Automobiles Peugeot from 2009 to 2012. Over there, he introduced a new strategy for the Citroën DS and also oversaw the introduction of the brand in major markets around the world. Under his leadership, the company also saw record sales in the year 2009-10. In 2012, he became chief executive officer of the European Association of Automotive Suppliers (CLEPA) where he was instrumental in increasing the number of corporate members from 82 to 112. His inputs helped shape the Industry Research and Innovation Strategy as well as the roadmap for 2025.
Gales has extensive experience in the automotive industry and has worked with major automotive giants such as General Motors, Volkswagen AG and Daimler AG
Proton CEO, Dato' Abdul Harith Abdullah welcomed Gales to the group by stating, "This is an exciting time for Lotus, and Jean-Marc's appointment could not have come at a more appropriate time, especially taking into account our plans for Lotus. We believe that with his strong technical and managerial expertise and leadership, Jean-Marc will be able to drive the Lotus transformation plan and further enhance Lotus' business and capabilities."
PROTON APPOINTS NEW LOTUS CEO
| PROTON Holdings Berhad ("PROTON") today announced the appointment of Jean-Marc Gales as the new Chief Executive Officer of Group Lotus plc, effective 1 May 2014. Lotus is a wholly owned subsidiary of PROTON and a member of the DRB-HICOM Group. Gales, a Luxembourgian, holds a MSc in Management from London's Imperial College, and a MSc in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Karlsruhe in Germany. A known industry player, Gales has held several significant positions with numerous global automotive manufacturers. Prior to his new appointment at Lotus, Gales was Chief Executive Officer of the European Association of Automotive Suppliers ("CLEPA") since 2012, where he played a key role in turning around the association through various strategic initiatives, including streamlining the working processes and increasing corporate members from 82 to 112. Gales also established a lobbying strategy with the European Parliament and European Commission, and helped define the Industry Research & Innovation Strategy and Roadmap for 2025. Before joining CLEPA, Gales was the President of Automobiles Citroen and Automobiles Peugeot between 2009 and 2012, where he restructured the entire sales value chain and implemented a new brand strategy for the DS Line and introduced the Citroen DS in major markets around the world. During his tenure there, the Company delivered record retail sales in 2009 and 2010. Gales' other previous appointments include several senior positions in Daimler AG, General Motors and Volkswagen AG. Aslam Farikullah, current Chief Operating Officer of Group Lotus plc, remains as Member of the Board of Lotus Cars Limited and will continue to contribute to the growth of the business in the future. PROTON Chief Executive Officer, Dato' Abdul Harith Abdullah is pleased to welcome Gales to the Group. "This is an exciting time for Lotus, and Jean-Marc's appointment could not have come at a more appropriate time, especially taking into account our plans for Lotus. We believe that with his strong technical and managerial expertise and leadership, Jean-Marc will be able to drive the Lotus transformation plan and further enhance Lotus' business and capabilities." Jean-Marc Gales is married and has one daughter. ENDS | |
Related Stories
