Stellantis’ long search for a new CEO has ended.

The automaker has named Antonio Filosa to its top executive position, ending a six-month search to replace former CEO Carlos Tavares, who resigned in early December amid declining sales and profits.

Filosa will assume the CEO role effective June 23, when he will announce the company’s new leadership team. He has been with Stellantis and its predecessors, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and Fiat, since 1999.

The 51-year-old native of Italy currently serves as chief operating officer for the Americas — a position he assumed in December — and chief quality officer, and has held numerous previous roles including COO of South America and CEO of the company’s Jeep brand.

Antonio Filosa

Stellantis’ brands include Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, RAM, Fiat and Alfa Romeo, among others.

In a news release, Stellantis said Filosa was selected unanimously by the board of directors “based on his proven track record of hands-on success during his more than 25 years in the automotive industry, the depth and span of his experience around the world, his unrivaled knowledge of the company and his recognized leadership qualities.”

Vice chairman Robert Peugeot called him “the natural choice.”

The board will hold an “extraordinary shareholder meeting” to elect Filosa to the board. The company said executive chairman John Elkann, head of an interim executive committee that led Stellantis following Tavares’ departure, will continue in his current role.

“Antonio’s deep understanding of our company, including its people, who he views as our core strength, and of our industry equip him perfectly for the role of chief executive officer in this next and crucial phase of Stellantis’ development,” Elkann said. “I have worked closely with Antonio over the past six months, during which time his responsibilities have increased, and his strong and effective leadership spanning both North and South America at a moment of unprecedented challenge have confirmed the excellent qualities he brings to the role.”

Filosa thanked Elkann and the board “for the confidence they have placed in me to lead our business during this pivotal time for our industry.”

During Filosa’s brief tenure leading operations in the Americas, the company said, he has worked toward the strengthening Stellantis’ U.S. presence by significantly reducing excessive dealer inventory, reorganizing the leadership team, driving the process of introducing new products and powertrains, and increasing dialogue with dealers, unions and suppliers.

“I have always been inspired by the immense talent, passion and commitment of our people at Stellantis and the power of trusting our teams to achieve excellence,” he said. “We have the world’s best and most iconic brands in automotive history and an over 100-year heritage of innovation. That legacy, combined with our relentless dedication to giving our customers the products and services they love, will continue to be key to our success.”