Stellantis has appointed Stephanie Hartgrove as its chief communications officer, according to PRWeek, handing her the top communications job at one of the world's largest automakers.

The appointment puts Hartgrove in charge of corporate communications for the transatlantic car group, whose brands include Jeep, Ram, Peugeot, Citroën, Opel and Fiat. Stellantis formed in January 2021 from the merger of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and France's Groupe PSA, and it sells vehicles across North America and Europe.

What do we know about the move?

Details remain thin. PRWeek reported the appointment but the trade coverage available did not specify:

• Who Hartgrove replaces, or whether the role had been vacant
• Her start date
• Whether she will report directly to CEO Carlos Tavares or to another executive
• Any planned changes to the communications structure or team

Comms Memo has reached out for further detail and will update this story as more information becomes available.

Why the CCO seat matters at Stellantis

The chief communications post at Stellantis carries unusual weight. The company operates dozens of brands across two continents, runs joint ventures in China, and faces a US market where inventory gluts and pricing pressure have forced repeated strategy shifts.

For communications practitioners, the CCO role at an automaker of this scale means coordinating labor communications with multiple unions, product communications across regional brand teams, financial communications tied to quarterly results, and government relations in Washington, Brussels and beyond.

Hartgrove steps into that job at a moment when the company's public messaging is under as much scrutiny as its product lineup.

Who is Stephanie Hartgrove?

Hartgrove's appointment was confirmed by PRWeek's reporting. Her prior role and career history were not detailed in the available coverage, and Stellantis has not yet published a full announcement outlining her background.

Practitioners watching the move will want to see how quickly she fills out the communications leadership team below her, and whether she brings deputies from her previous shop or promotes from within Stellantis' existing structure.

What comes next?

Expect a formal announcement from Stellantis with biographical detail and reporting lines in short order — automakers typically follow trade-press confirmation with a release within days.

We will track the appointment and any follow-on hires. If Hartgrove restructures the comms function or consolidates agency roster work under her tenure, that news will land here first.