Fiat: Ramacotti, boss of the style

TURIN — Fiat group CEO Sergio Marchionne wants all group styling centers under the same roof, Lorenzo Ramaciotti.

In early July, Marchionne christened Officina 83, a former engine plant in the Mirafiori complex that will become the new Fiat Group Automobiles styling center.

He said that, within a year, the Iveco heavy truck and Case New Holland farming equipment styling centers would also move here.

When that happens, Marchionne said, Ramaciotti will head all Fiat group styling centers.

“This is another sign of functions we are integrating at group level to maximize teamwork, best practice sharing — and also to save costs,” he said.

Last year, Fiat brought Iveco and CNH purchasing under Gianni Coda, purchasing director of both Fiat group and Fiat Group Automobiles. And early this year, all information and communication technologies were brought together under Gilberto Ceresa.

By the end of the year, Fiat group is also expected to concentrate all manufacturing operations under Stefan Ketter.

Ketter, currently executive vice president manufacturing at Fiat Group Automobiles, is already introducing throughout the Fiat group his World Class Manufacturing (WCM), the lean production program he created for Fiat Auto.

Ramaciotti, 59, a Pininfarina veteran who left early retirement on June 1 to head styling for the Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Fiat Professional, Lancia and Maserati brands, tried to downplay his soon-to-be-expanded responsibilities.