In a wave of high-level appointments reshaping the auto sector, recent weeks have brought fresh leadership momentum across the Americas — from Brazil to Canada — as companies gear up for electrification, regional expansion, and operational excellence.

Let’s start in South America, where Stellantis named Herlander Zola as Head of the region, succeeding Emanuele Cappellano. Based in Brazil, Zola brings deep expertise in commercial operations and is tasked with reinforcing Stellantis’ market share across Latin America.

Also in Brazil, Renault appointed Milton Trein Jr. as Chief Financial Officer in September, strengthening its fiscal leadership as the French automaker intensifies its Latin American strategy.

Moving north, Stellantis Canada saw a major shift on October 24. Jeff Hines, a 28-year veteran, transitions into a newly created role as Senior Vice President of North America Fleet Solutions, where he’ll drive connectivity and tech innovation for commercial clients. He’ll report to U.S. fleet head Michael Ferreira.

Taking Hines’ place is Trevor Longley, now President of Stellantis Canada. Longley brings over two decades of industry experience, including a decade at Nissan Canada, and is set to lead growth in a highly competitive market.

Over at Subaru of America, three internal promotions were announced on October 29. Laura Matey becomes Vice President of IT and Chief Information Officer, overseeing digital transformation. Brian Moscatelli steps in as Vice President of Service and Quality, while Tim Tagye takes on the role of Vice President of Field and Distributor Operations — each bringing decades of experience to Subaru’s U.S. expansion.

In the aftermarket space, the Automotive Industries Association of Canada named Emily Chung as its next President and CEO, effective January 2, 2026. A former auto shop owner with deep industry ties, Chung succeeds JF Champagne at a pivotal moment for Canada’s auto care sector.

And now shifting to global appointments, Stellantis made headlines on October 8 with two major moves. Francesco Ciancia returns as Global Head of Manufacturing, bringing decades of engineering leadership from Fiat Chrysler and Mercedes-Benz. Meanwhile, design legend Ralph Gilles steps in as Global Head of Design, now steering creative direction across Stellantis’ 14 brands — from Jeep to Maserati.

These appointments reflect a broader industry pivot toward agile, tech-savvy leadership ready to navigate the future of mobility. Stay tuned as we’ll keep tracking how these leaders steer their companies forward.

Congratulations to all.

Fleet Mobility Today