Laurent Rossi has been ousted as the chief executive at French sports car brand, Alpine. He will be replaced by Philippe Krief, who served as the vice-president of engineering and product performance at the Renault-owned brand until this announcement.
The automaker announced the change in leadership in a short press release today that explained that the change will take effect on July 20. It added that Rossi will now focus on “special projects linked to the transformation” of the Renault Group.
“I would like to thank Laurent for his unwavering commitment over the last two years at the helm of Alpine,” said Luca de Meo, Renault Group CEO. “Laurent has set out a clear and ambitious strategy for the brand. He has put Alpine in the best possible position to achieve its long-term goals.”
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The group did not elaborate on the precise reason for the change in leadership, but did say that Krief will allow Alpine to become “a brand of the future.” His technical knowledge, industry experience, and leadership will be key to the brand’s success, said de Meo.
Krief studied at the Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Techniques Avancées in France, and has worked with a variety of brands, including Michelin and Fiat, and led departments at Alfa Romeo and Maserati. Before joining Alpine, he was Ferrari’s director of engineering.
Earlier this month, Alpine announced that Bruno Famin would be taking over responsibility for Alpine’s motorsport activities, including its Formula One team. The decision followed an infamous outburst, in which the now ousted CEO criticized the team and threatened to replace its principal, Otmar Szafnauer.
The Alpine F1 team is currently in sixth place in the constructor’s championship, and it plans to take on the top class of racing at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2024. Meanwhile, the road car department plans to have a seven-car lineup and to sell across the globe by 2030.
