Dacia CEO Denis Le Vot steps down after four years

Dacia CEO Denis Le Vot has left the company, it has been confirmed. He will be replaced by Mercedes-Benz executive Katrin Adt, who arrives ahead of a crucial period of expansion and electrification for the Renault-owned Romanian brand. Autocar Award winner Le Vot has been CEO of Dacia since January 2021, his latest role in a long career with the Renault Group, which he joined as a sales director in 2000. No official reason for his departure has been given, but in a statement on his Linkedin he said it was his own decision to leave. "I’ve made the decision to leave the Group to focus on personal projects," said Le Vot. "As a passionate professional in the automotive industry, I’ve always been driven by a deep conviction: it’s the people who make this journey so rich and meaningful. "Memorable encounters, committed teams, projects carried out with energy and good spirit, inspiring collaborations… and above all, five exceptional years dedicated to transforming the Dacia brand. A transformation that stayed true to its DNA: making mobility affordable and responsible for millions of customers who place their trust in us every year. "Today, I feel immense gratitude, great pride, and a sense of serenity as I hand over the reins to Katrin Adt. I wish her every success in continuing this beautiful journey." Le Vot was understood to have been in the running for the Renault Group CEO job, following the recent departure of Luca de Meo, but the role ultimately went to François Provost. Under Le Vot's stewardship, Dacia has added its first hybrid models, launched the hugely popular Jogger MPV, expanded into the C-segment with the Bigster SUV and imported the electric Spring city car to Europe. Meanwhile, the current, third-generation Sandero has become comfortably Europe's best-selling retail car, with the Duster following close behind as the region's most popular SUV. His replacement Katrin Adt joins with 26 years of experience in automotive, during which time she has been CEO of Mercedes in Luxembourg, CEO of the Smart brand and CEO of Mercedes-Benz Own Retail Europe. Adt said: “I am excited to be joining the Renault Group and to take the helm of the Dacia brand. It is a privilege to contribute to writing the next chapter of its remarkable success story, together with an exceptional team. Shaping businesses for the future has always been my driving force. "Today, we stand at a pivotal moment – both technologically and socially – in our relationship with the automobile. Dacia has consistently demonstrated the relevance of its approach through products that resonate deeply with customer expectations. More than just a brand, Dacia stands for a bold, intelligent and accessible vision of mobility." High up on Adt's to-do list will be the launch of two further C-segment models to sit alongside the Bigster, the development of the replacement for the Spring – which will be twinned with the Renault Twingo – and the electrification of the brand's core model lines, beginning with an electric Sandero in 2027. François Provost commemorated Le Vot's tenure of the value brand: “Under Denis's leadership, the Dacia brand has become a strong brand with an attractive line-up, embedding a larger customer base. "In the name of Renault Group, I would like to express my gratitude to Denis for all his achievements throughout the years. I wish to welcome Katrin Adt, whose experience within the automotive industry will be a key asset for Dacia." Le Vot's departure is one of several changes to the management of the Renault Group that the company says are aimed at "strengthening leadership and organisation to accelerate execution". As part of the reshuffle, Renault brand CEO Fabrice Cambolive has been given an additional role as chief growth officer for both Renault and Dacia - a role designed to "ensure a unified strategic approach and maximise revenue across markets". The move appears to be about identifying further opportunities for cost-saving synergies between Renault and Dacia, but the firm says it will "maintain a brand-based organisation at a national sales company level". Cambolive will also oversee growth in important overseas markets including India, Latin America and Korea. Meanwhile, Philippe Brunet has been named the Renault Group's new chief technology officer and given the task of "improving coordination" between the various departments involved in vehicle development and production. In this function, he replaces Philippe Krief, who leaves the CTO job but remains CEO of performance brand Alpine.