Leach to Head-Up Maserati

Martin Leach is to join Ferrari nine months after being sacked as head of Ford of Europe for talking to Fiat, the sports car maker's Italian parent, about a job.

Mr Leach, who is suing Ford in Michigan for up to €60m ($72m) in damages, was unable to take the original job running Fiat's automotive division because his former employer tried to enforce a non-compete clause in his contract. But, after being fired, Mr Leach was granted an injunction in the US against Ford, allowing him to work for competitors. Ford abandoned a parallel court case against him in Germany earlier this month, freeing him to take a new job.

Mr Leach has now accepted a job as head of Maserati, Ferrari's less costly sister brand, according to people close to the appointment.

The position comes amid speculation about the position of Luca di Montezemolo, Ferrari chairman and chief executive, who is to take over the full-time post of head of Italy's Confindustria, the business lobby group. Fiat insiders insist Mr Montezemolo will continue running Ferrari, but there have been rumours that he could appoint a senior executive to take charge of day-to-day operations.

It is not clear what will happen to Antonello Perricone, currently head of Maserati. Fiat and Ferrari both refused to comment on the appointment, first reported by Automotive News. Mr Leach, who is on holiday, confirmed he had accepted a new job in the industry but declined to say where.

Separately, Fiat will today appoint Stefan Ketter to the new post of head of quality at its automotive operations.

Mr Ketter, poached from Volkswagen in North America, will be charged with shedding an image of shoddy vehicles that saw Fiat nicknamed "Fix it again, Tony".

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