Alfa Romeo’s latest revival will be spearheaded by a new management team, including a new design boss.
Jean-Philippe Imparato, formerly the head of the Peugeot brand, was put in charge of Alfa Romeo after Fiat Chrysler and the PSA Group merged to form Stellantis in January.
In addition to synchronising development plans with the automaker’s other premium brands – DS and Lancia – Imparato is shaking up Alfa’s design department.
According to Automotive News Europe, Alejandro Mesonero-Romanos will soon be appointed as Alfa Romeo’s new design boss, replacing Daniele Calonaci, who will stay with the firm as the chief designer for Jeep Europe.
Mesonero abruptly resigned his role as Dacia’s head of design last week, and will reportedly begin with Alfa in July.
His impact at the storied brand won’t be felt for a while yet, as design for the upcoming Tonale crossover due in 2022 is already locked in.
The next confirmed model is an even smaller crossover pencilled in for 2023, and rumoured to be named Brennero.
2008 Laguna coupe 
Mesonero began his career in 1994 at Seat before moving north in 2001 to join Renault, where his credits include the Laguna coupe and heading up the Renault Samsung design studio.
He returned to Seat in 2011 as design director, and lead the design of the commercially successful Ateca, Arona and Tarraco crossovers.
Other vehicles developed under his watch include the latest Leon and Ibiza, as well as Cupra’s first standalone vehicles, the Tavascan concept and Formentor crossover.
Ibiza 
Arona 
Formentor
With former Seat boss Luca de Meo appointed as CEO of the Renault Group in mid-2020, Mesonero was lured back to be Dacia’s chief designer.
Although he was only in charge for around six months, Mesonero made a splash with the Dacia Bigster concept unveiled in January 2021.
Not only will the production version of the Bigster move Dacia into a new size class, but it kicks off a new design language for the Romanian firm.
