Stellantis Hires Renault's Top Designer Gilles Vidal for Key Role

According to Bloomberg, Stellantis has hired one of Renault's top design executives, Gilles Vidal, as part of its transformation under the new CEO, Antonio Filosa. On July 25, Stellantis announced that Gilles Vidal would take over from the outgoing Jean-Pierre Ploué as the design head for its European brands. Vidal will assume his new role on October 1, reporting to Stellantis' COO for Europe, Jean-Philippe Imparato, and will work closely with the company's chief design officer, Ralph Gilles. Imparato stated that Vidal's deep understanding of European automotive culture and forward-thinking design philosophy will play a crucial role in redefining mobility and enhancing brand recognition in Europe. In his new position, Vidal will oversee the design work of a diverse range of brands, including mainstream brands like Fiat and Citroën, as well as premium brands such as Alfa Romeo and luxury brand Maserati. This appointment marks a 'homecoming' for Vidal, who spent 25 years as a designer for Citroën and Peugeot, including a decade as Peugeot's design director from 2010 to 2020. He joined Citroën in 1996 and rose to the role of head of the concept car and advanced design department over 14 years. During his time as chief designer at Peugeot, he oversaw the design of several award-winning models, including the Peugeot 308, 3008, and 208. Vidal joined Renault at the end of 2020, where he was responsible for the design of the Renault brand and its electric vehicle division, Ampere. Under his leadership, the Renault Scenic and Renault 5/Alpine A290 won European Car of the Year awards. Notably, Vidal's appointment comes at a crucial time for Stellantis, which is striving to rebound in multiple core markets, especially in Europe, where demand remains weak and competition from Chinese automakers like BYD is increasing. The unexpected net loss of €2.3 billion in the first half of the year further highlights the challenges Stellantis faces. AIR Capital stock analyst Pierre-Olivier Essig noted that this appointment could be a turning point for Stellantis, showcasing Antonio Filosa's ability to attract new talent despite the departure of several executives during the tenure of former CEO Carlos Tavares. Essig also pointed out that Vidal's appointment, following the unexpected departure of former Renault CEO Luca de Meo, intensifies the crisis at Renault. In a phone interview, he remarked, 'Renault's path to recovery may have come to an end, while Stellantis' significant crisis seems to be over. The fortunes of both companies appear to have reversed in just a few weeks.' Vidal is the fourth key executive to leave Renault in the past year, following the departures of engineering head Gilles Le Borgne, CFO Thierry Pieton, and former CEO Luca de Meo. Currently, Renault is being managed by Chairman Jean-Dominique Senard and interim CEO Duncan Minto, as the company searches for a permanent CEO.