Maserati recruits new sales chief from Ferrari

Maserati has shaken up its leadership team, recruiting a new sales chief from Ferrari and appointing a new head in North America.

Jean-Philippe Leloup has joined Maserati from Ferrari to lead a new organization called Maserati Commercial, the automaker said in a news release on Monday. Leloup previously was in charge of Ferrari's business operations in central and eastern Europe.

Maserati in North America will now be led by the head of its dealer network in the region, Al Gardner, the release said.

Gardner will be part of team of regional leaders reporting to Leloup. Among them is Alberto Pantanelli, newly named interim chief of sales operations. Pantanelli keeps responsibility for parts and service in Europe.

Umberto Cini remains Maserati's Europe boss and Alberto Cavaggioni keeps responsibility for China. Luca Delfino stays in post as head of Asia-Pacific excluding China.

The announcement was made Monday by Harald Wester, who was made Maserati's COO on Oct. 1 in a global reorganization of FCA's management team by new CEO Mike Manley.

Previously, Tim Kuniskis had been responsible for Maserati, both globally and in North America, but Kuniskis was handed the reins to the Jeep brand in the same Oct. 1 reorganization.

Gardner has been head of FCA's North American dealer network since 2015, and will remain in the position. He previously served as head of the Chrysler brand, and helped launch the 2015 Chrysler 200.