*

Doug Ostermann had been finance chief for less than a year

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Move adds to concerns over management stability, analyst

says

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Carmaker confirms 2025 financial guidance

(Rewrites with analyst comment, context)

By Romolo Tosiani and Giulio Piovaccari

MILAN, Sept 29 - Stellantis ( STLA ) has promoted Joao

Laranjo to be its chief financial officer, replacing Doug

Ostermann after less than a year in the job, in the latest

management change at the struggling Franco-Italian-American

automaker.

Laranjo, a Brazilian national, will take over immediately,

and also retain his current position as CFO for North America,

Stellantis ( STLA ) said on Monday, adding that Ostermann was leaving for

personal reasons.

The move comes just three months after the maker of Fiats,

Peugeots and Jeeps named Antonio Filosa as CEO after a

leadership shake-up sparked by weak performance in key markets.

STELLANTIS IN THE MIDST OF A TURNAROUND DRIVE

The change "adds to the general management instability and

may add to worries about the extent of the efforts required to

turn around the company," Oddo-BHF analyst Michael Foundoukidis

said, describing Ostermann's departure as "surprising".

Milan-listed shares in Stellantis ( STLA ) fell as much as 2.7%

before recovering to trade 1.1% higher at 1050 GMT.

Ostermann had taken over as CFO in October last year during

a period of declining sales and profitability that ultimately

led to the departure of former CEO Carlos Tavares.

During his brief tenure, Ostermann played a key role in

stabilising Stellantis' ( STLA ) financial position and helped steer the

group through the CEO transition, while laying the groundwork

for a strategic response to its downturn.

Laranjo will also take on Ostermann's responsibilities as

head of Stellantis Financial Services and board member at

Chinese EV partner Leapmotor.

Filosa and Laranjo have worked together in the past, first

at Fiat Chrysler, now part of Stellantis ( STLA ), and later at

Stellantis ( STLA ), both in South and North America.

"Having worked closely with Joao for 15 years and witnessed

his rise through the ranks, I have consistently been impressed

by his excellent financial acumen, results-driven mindset, and

deep understanding of our industry's complexities," Filosa said

in a statement.

Filosa is currently retaining his previous role as head of

Stellantis' ( STLA ) North American operations.

Stellantis ( STLA ) confirmed its 2025 financial guidance on Monday,

reiterating targets announced in July.

Laranjo will remain based in Detroit. He joined Fiat

Chrysler in 2009 as chief accounting officer for Latin America

and later served as regional CFO. In 2024, he briefly left the

group to join Goodyear as vice president of finance for

the Americas.