SEAT boss Luca de Meo steps down after four years at helm ~ station of gear

Jonathan Burn 2020-01-07 17:03

Spanish firm’s CEO steps down, expected to take over as Renault CEO

The boss of SEAT, Luca de Meo, has stepped down from his position as CEO at his own request, the Spanish firm has confirmed.

De Meo was appointed CEO at SEAT in November 2015 following a six-year stint as Marketing Director of VW. SEAT’s vice-president for Finance, Carsten Isensee will assume the role until further notice, the company has confirmed.

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An official statement said: “SEAT informs that, on his own request and in common agreement with the Volkswagen Group, Luca de Meo is stepping down from his position as President of SEAT. Luca de Meo will remain a member of the Group until further notice.”

Although unconfirmed, it’s rumoured that De Meo will be filling the vacant CEO position at Renault, following the board’s decision to oust Thierry Bollore from the role at the end of last year.

De Meo has overseen a dramatic turnaround in the Spanish firm’s fortunes during his tenure, launching the brand into the SUV market, first with the Ateca and then followed by the smaller Arona and the new seven-seat Tarraco. De Meo also oversaw the firm’s move to make Cupra as its own standalone brand.

SEAT sold almost 69,000 cars in the UK last year, a 9.44 per cent increase in a market that was down by almost 3 per cent overall.

What do you think this will mean for the future of SEAT? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below...

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