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Fiat-owned Maserati has named Giulio Pastore as general manager of the brand’s operations in central-northern Europe, a key area which includes the UK, Germany, France and Spain.
39-year-old Pastore will succeed Thomas Hajek, who has left the company at his own request, a spokesman told Automotive News Europe. Pastore has held different positions in the Fiat Group in the past ten years, leading Maserati’s business in central-southern Europe since 2009 before being assigned the central-northern area as well. Prior to that he was Maserati’s general manager for Italy.
He joined Fiat in 2001 from sporting goods manufacturer Adidas and started his career in the Italian company at light commercial vehicle maker Iveco, after which he moved on to Lancia. Holder of a degree in engineering from Italy’s Politecnico di Milano, Pastore will report to Mark McNabb, Maserati’s global commercial director and head of the brand’s North America unit.
Pastore will have an important role in the company’s sale strategy, as Fiat Group CEO Sergio Marchionne wants Maserati’s annual sales to rise to about 55,000 to 60,000 units by 2015 from only 5,675 units last year. The significant rise is expected to come from new models such as the new Kubang SUV and a new smaller sedan below the Quattroporte.