Luca de Meo
Luca de Meo | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 13, 1967 Milan, Italy |
| Occupation | Automotive executive |
| Years active | 1992–present |
| Known for | CEO of Renault Group, CEO of SEAT, CEO of Fiat Automobiles and Alfa Romeo |
| Notable work | Da 0 a 500; Dictionnaire amoureux de l'automobile |
Luca de Meo (born 13 June 1967) is an Italian executive in the automotive field and formerly served as CEO of the Renault Group. On June 15, 2025, it was revealed that he would depart Renault to assume leadership of the luxury goods giant Kering.
Early life and education
De Meo was born in Milan in 1967 to parents originating from Puglia. He graduated from Bocconi University in Milan with a degree in Business Administration. His thesis, focusing on business ethics, was among the earliest academic works on the subject in Italy. His fascination with automobiles began early, influenced by the Italian aviator Arnaldo Cavallari.
Automotive sector
With a career spanning over three decades in the automotive industry, de Meo began his professional journey at Renault between 1992 and 1998, working across Italy and France before moving on to Toyota Europe.
Fiat Group
In 2002, de Meo joined the Fiat Group, where he managed the Lancia divisions before being named CEO of Fiat Automobiles and subsequently Alfa Romeo under Sergio Marchionne’s leadership. He held the position of Chief Marketing Officer at Fiat Group from 2007 to 2009 and served as CEO of Abarth. De Meo played a crucial role in relaunching the Fiat 500 and revitalizing the Abarth brand. The 2007 reintroduction of the Fiat 500, largely attributed to his efforts, is regarded as a turning point that helped save Fiat, with sales surpassing three million units by 2022.
Volkswagen Group
De Meo joined the Volkswagen Group in 2009 as Marketing Director for both the Volkswagen brand and the overall Group. He later became a board member responsible for sales and marketing at Audi AG. Additionally, he sat on the Supervisory Boards of Ducati and Lamborghini and chaired Volkswagen Group operations in Italy and Spain.
Between November 2015 and January 2020, de Meo presided over SEAT S.A. (including SEAT & Cupra), driving notable expansion. Under his guidance, SEAT recorded historic operating profits with a 24.8% increase in 2017, selling 468,400 vehicles, followed by a further 23.1% growth in 2018. He successfully extended SEAT’s market reach into Latin America and oversaw a record-breaking sales figure exceeding 574,000 units in 2019, coinciding with the launch of the new Leon model.
De Meo strategically broadened SEAT’s lineup by introducing SUVs such as Ateca, Arona, and Tarraco. Furthermore, he established the Cupra brand with the introduction of the sporty Cupra Formentor SUV, which significantly contributed to restoring SEAT’s profitability and improving its margins.
Renault Group
In January 2020, Luca de Meo was announced as Renault Group’s CEO effective July that year. He appointed Denis le Vot to lead Dacia with an objective to reposition the brand. In January 2021, de Meo presented "Renaulution," a strategic initiative divided into three stages: Resurrection, Renovation, and Revolution. This plan emphasizes brand development alongside accelerating Renault’s transition toward electric mobility.
By 2022, Renault demonstrated financial progress under de Meo’s leadership; revenues increased by 6% in 2021 with net profits approaching €1 billion. At the November 2022 "Capital Market Day," Renault revealed a restructuring into five divisions including Ampere, a dedicated electric vehicle subsidiary.
In January 2022, de Meo confirmed plans for manufacturing an upcoming electric SUV at Alpine’s Dieppe facility targeting premium market segments as part of Renaulution’s second phase. By January 2023, he had completed Renaulution’s first phase within two years. Renault’s operating margin improved from 2.8% in 2021 to 5.6% in 2023—a remarkable recovery from an €8 billion loss upon his arrival.
De Meo’s vision includes transforming Renault into a fully electric brand across Europe by 2030 while achieving carbon neutrality on the continent by 2040 and globally by 2050. In February 2023, he announced initiatives to boost production of Renault electric vehicles within France. That year also saw him unveil Alpine’s new Formula 1 single-seater in London and disclose ongoing discussions between Alpine and US distributor AutoNation. Alpine experienced a sales increase of 33% in 2022 with ambitions to transition fully to electric vehicles and reach profitability by 2026.
In June 2025, De Meo resigned as CEO of Renault Group; media reports indicated his forthcoming role as CEO of Kering.
Academic sector
Fluent in Italian, English, French, German, and Spanish, De Meo is a teaching fellow at the SDA Bocconi School of Management. In 2017, he was honored as the school's Alumnus of the Year.
Other activities
Between 2015 and 2020, De Meo held positions on the Supervisory Boards of both Ducati and Lamborghini. He also served as an Independent Board Member for Gruppo TIM until 2022. In December 2022, he was chosen to lead the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) as its chairperson for 2023, taking over from Oliver Zipse of BMW Group. As ACEA president, De Meo champions initiatives aimed at decarbonization to boost the industry's global competitiveness. He underscores the sector’s dedication to electric mobility, value generation, and safeguarding employment within Europe.
De Meo draws attention to the automotive industry's challenges involving deindustrialization and offshoring. In January 2023, he advocated for a robust EU automotive industrial strategy designed to enhance international competitiveness. He highlighted the critical need for advancing European electric vehicle development and securing regional backing to uphold Europe’s automotive sector’s strength.
Awards and reception
In July 2015, De Meo was awarded the title of "commendatore" by the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic. Harvard University developed a case study on him in 2013 that focused on his marketing leadership at Volkswagen Group. His recognition as Bocconi Alumnus of the Year in 2017 reflected his professionalism, initiative, integrity, and accountability. While his expertise lies in marketing and product strategy rather than engineering, his leadership style is noted for being collegial, witty, and culturally versatile.
In November 2019, he received the "Entrepreneur of the Year Medal of Honour" from the Catalan Employers. King Felipe VI of Spain bestowed upon him the Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic in March 2021. Italy named him Cavaliere del Lavoro in 2022, and in December 2022, he was granted the Chevalier (Knight) distinction within the French Legion of Honor.
Publications
- De Meo, Luca (2010). Da 0 a 500. Storie vissute, idee e consigli da uno dei manager più dinamici della nuova generazione [From 0 to 500: Experiences, Ideas and Guidance from One of the Most Dynamic Managers of the New Generation]. Marsilio.
- De Meo, Luca (2024). Dictionnaire amoureux de l'automobile [Dictionary of Automotive Passion]. Place des éditeurs.
Personal life
De Meo is married to Silvia Goracci and they have two sons together.
See also
- L'Argus (French automobile publication)