Citroën, one of the most established names in the automotive world known for its innovative and comfort-focused vehicles, has appointed Xavier Chardon as its new CEO. Chardon will officially take over from Thierry Koskas on June 2, 2025, reporting to Jean-Philippe Imparato, Chief Operating Officer of Stellantis Enlarged Europe. With over 30 years of international experience in the automotive industry—20 of which were spent with Citroën—Chardon aims to accelerate the brand’s transformation in an evolving global market.
Xavier Chardon returns to Citroën in a top leadership role after a dynamic international career. A graduate of the Institut Commercial de Nancy, Chardon began his automotive journey in 1994 at PSA Group. He started at Citroën Italy, later taking on key positions at the brand’s headquarters. He went on to lead Citroën Denmark in 2001 and Citroën Germany in 2004.
From 2007 to 2009, he served as Citroën’s Director of Marketing, Press, and Public Relations. Between 2009 and 2011, he led Citroën France as Managing Director.
In 2012, Chardon joined Volkswagen AG as Vice President of European Sales. He later became Global Head of Marketing and Communications in 2014. In 2016, he was promoted to Vice President of Marketing and Customer Experience. From 2017 to 2018, he led the “Digitalization Project House” at Volkswagen China and subsequently took on the role of Vice President of Sales and Marketing at the SAIC-Volkswagen joint venture.
Returning to France in 2021, Chardon became Chairman of the Executive Board of Volkswagen Group France, a position he held until his appointment at Citroën.
Commenting on the leadership change, Jean-Philippe Imparato, COO of Stellantis Enlarged Europe, said:
“I would like to thank Thierry Koskas for his leadership over the past two years, especially for driving product renewal with the launch of the new C5 Aircross. We are very pleased to welcome Xavier Chardon as the new CEO of Citroën. His extensive career, deep industry expertise, and strong understanding of the Citroën brand will be instrumental in strengthening its unique market position and opening new horizons.”
As he steps into his new role, Xavier Chardon is expected to build on Citroën’s recent successes and steer the brand toward a bold and future-focused direction in the rapidly changing automotive landscape.
