Ferrari Marketing Chief Departs Amid Backlash Over First Electric Car

Enrico Galliera, Ferrari's chief marketing and commercial officer, has departed the company after 16 years, weeks following criticism of the brand's first all-electric vehicle, the Luce.

Galliera's exit was announced this week, with Massimiliano Di Silvestre, former head of BMW Italy, set to take over the role in July. Ferrari stated that Galliera had decided to pursue a new professional path, a decision that had been discussed with the company some time ago. The company thanked Galliera for his contributions to its growth and the strengthening of the Ferrari brand globally.

The unveiling of the Luce in May was met with significant negative reaction and online criticism. The vehicle's design, partly influenced by former Apple designer Sir Jony Ive, also drew criticism from Matteo Salvini, Italy's deputy prime minister and transport minister. Following the Luce's debut, Ferrari's share price experienced an 8% drop on the subsequent day.

During Galliera's tenure, which began in 2010, he played a role in significant company milestones. These included the launch of LaFerrari, the company's first hybrid hypercar, in 2013, and Ferrari's listing on the New York Stock Exchange in 2015 and Milan in 2016. His responsibilities also included managing client access to the brand's exclusive vehicles.