The Italian manager has assured that he will apply his experience to new sectors. Although the next destination Luca de Meo is unknown, it is certain that it will be outside the car industry.
Jean-Dominique Senard, president of the Renault Group, has accepted the departure of the Italian leader, whose departure will be effective from July 15. Until that time, the MEO will continue to belong to the French conglomerate.
On the other hand, the Board of Directors of the Renault Group has the Appointment process of a new CEO.
In fact, the Board of Directors expressed his confidence in the quality and experience of the management team to continue and accelerate the transformation strategy of the Renault Group.
“There is a time in life when someone knows that the task has been fulfilled. In Renault Group we have confronted enormous challenges in less than five years! We have achieved what many have considered impossible. Nowadays the results speak for themselves: they are the best in our history,” said Luca De Meo.
“We have a solid team and an agile organization. We also have a strategic plan that is prepared for the next generation products. That is why I decided that the time was to pass the witness,” he added.
The Italian manager has claimed that he is leaving a transformed company, prepared for the future, to Apply my experience in other sectors and start new adventures“
Jean-Dominique Senard, president of the Renault Group, has pointed out that “Luca de Meo worked for five years to return the Renault Group the place that corresponds to him.”
The French manager has acknowledged that “our company has restored a solid foundation under his leadership, has an impressive range of products and has resumed the path of growth.”
Luca de Meo landed in Paris in July 2020. Then it came from half a break, due to incompatibility after he resigned as president of the seat, belonging to the Volkswagen Group.
All for profitability
It was at the time when the Italian manager one Strategic plan for Renault that today allowed him to be profitable.
This plan called MixingIt was presented at the beginning of 2021 and was aimed at cropping the volumes and increasing profitability.
In particular the company He wanted to cut 3,000 million euros at fixed costs. In addition, it reduced the investments and costs of innovation and development of 10% of invoicing in 2021 to 8% in 2025.
In addition, The company reduced the global production capacity of the 4 million vehicles in 2019 to 3.1 million in 2025.
At the end of 2024, The Renault Group produced a total of 2.28 million vehicles worldwide2.4% more than the previous year. But it also included reducing the variable costs by 600 euros per vehicle.
This entire plan has paid off and the group closed last year with a 7.9% profitabilityIn accordance with the previous exercise. When Luca de Meo reached the consortium, the margin was -0.8%, that means he lost money.
More value cars
Luca de Meo’s plan also continued to offer more profitable products. That is, that of the C-SUV segment, one of the most demanded in Europe and the most profitable for manufacturers.
In reality, The Renault Group scored profits of 1,882 euros for each model that brought to the market before 2024Which represents 2.2% more compared to 2023.
But the Italian manager also knew how to make contact with customers with historical launches of the company. For this reason he launched the R5 and the R4.
All this, together with the development of non -plug -in hybrid technology, the Renault Group has been the third with more sales on the old continent, just behind the Volkswagen and Stellantis Group.
Situation of Spain
The departure of Luca de Meo takes place at an important moment for the Spanish car industry.
The French Auto-Consortium has awarded a total of industrial plan 2021-2024 Five hybrid models to the Villamuriel de Cerrato (Palencia) and Valladolid factories.
In fact, company and trade unions Last year they signed the extension of this agreement for exercise 2025.
This year the company and the trade unions will have to sit at the table to see which projects they have in the medium term, although some of these models are guaranteed their continuity.
