now personally having spent the last
nine years of my life seeing or talking
to Sergio almost on a daily basis this
morning's news is heartbreaking and I
know that it will also be heartbreaking
for many other people I don't think that
there is anything I could say about
Sergio's exceptional leadership and
character that isn't known by all of you
on this call and what was absolutely
clear to me is that he truly had a
special relationship with you now I know
that from his perspective this
relationship was based upon transparency
delivery the most importantly respect
and that was the voice of new Chrysler
CEO Mike Manley taking nearly a half an
hour out of the company conference call
this morning to pay respects to the man
widely credited with saving the company
when the industry collapsed Sergio
Marconi passed away in an Italian
hospital overnight due to complications
from a shoulder surgery he underwent in
late June his career spent guiding Fiat
Chrysler automobiles through some of its
toughest times and also helping glide
through some of the most profitable
times helping shape the auto industry
really as we know it rod Moloney joins
us live reporting from Chrysler
headquarters in Auburn Hills as the
reaction and also we're hearing a lot of
the memories of marque Oni are pouring
in rod well he was such an impressive
figure such an important figure in the
automotive industry and you could safely
say that 60,000 Chrysler employees Oh
their careers - Sergio Marconi
considering the condition the company it
was in when he decided to take the flyer
and take the company from the government
and turn it into something much bigger
and much better Sergio's work ethic was
legendary sleeping on jets between
Michigan London and Italy tirelessly
keeping for cell phones in his pocket
all the time and a couple of dozen
direct report executives hopping 7 days
a week former GM vice chairman Bob Lutz
says Marconi was a unique auto industry
visionary I think he was a very
effective leader in one of his hallmarks
is he had a very clear vision of where
he wanted to go and what he wanted to do
and whether it was popular or not or
whether there was consensus in the
company or not he would pursue that and
it at times it made him unpopular with
the company Marconi's industry
colleagues sang his praises today Ford
chairman Bill Ford put out a statement
saying quote Sergio Marconi was one of
the most respected leaders in the
industry whose creativity and bold
determination helped to restore Chrysler
to financial health and ROA Fiat
Chrysler into a profitable global
automaker his extraordinary leadership
candor and passion for the industry will
be missed by everyone who knew him GM
CEO Mary Barra said quote we at General
Motors offer our condolences to Sergio
Marconi's family and friends sergio
created a remarkable legacy in the
automotive industry our thoughts are
also with our industry colleagues at
Fiat Chrysler as they deal with this
sudden loss and quote UAW president Gary
Jones Road quote our thoughts and
prayers are with Sergio's family and
when history looks back at his legacy
despite bumps and bruises along the way
in the end the Sun wasn't setting when
he left the company the Sun was rising
that will long be remembered unquote
so some very kind memories of Sergio
Marconi the question now becomes what of
the company can mike manley take this
job and run with it can he be better
we're gonna take a look at some of those
questions coming up at local 4 News at
5:00 back to you ever yeah and certainly
a lot of questions today in also hearing
a lot about Marconi's place in
automotive history as well yeah well you
know I think that I would say that his
place in automotive history could exceed
that of Alan Mulally now Alan Mulally
was a beloved figure at 40 but he came
in and turned it around when there was
already a turnaround plan in place he
executed it put his stamp on it
Sergio Marconi took two companies that
when he got them were were almost dead
combined them and then turned them into
the seventh largest auto company in the
world that is now growing and profitable
that feat is staggering by any measure
yeah certainly lots more to talk about
we will see you starting at 5:00 thank
you right and we also have extended
coverage on Marconi's life and legacy
it's all on our website just head to
click on detroit.com slash automotive