Luca de Meo, CEO of Renault: “The United States and China are deploying bold industrial strategies; Europe must catch up, and it must do so as a team, because no company can succeed alone.”

The news that Luca de Meo is leaving Renault for the Kering group , which mainly includes luxury brands such as Yves Saint Laurent , has left more than a few people on the fence. His departure leaves the Renault Group without the CEO with whom it emerged after the scandal caused by Carlos Ghosn . However, his departure doesn't mean he'll stop dropping "pearls" about his great nemesis of recent years: the EU and its 2030 Agenda .

Thus, just a couple of weeks before his departure was confirmed, De Meo spoke at the Brussels Economic Forum and focused on how rapidly the world is changing: "If Europe doesn't move, it will be moved," he recalled in a LinkedIn post. "What place does Europe have in the new world economic order? We need less hesitation and more ambition," Luca de Meo urged during his speech.

A lost time that other players have already taken advantage of, according to Luca de Meo: “In a world where the United States and China are setting new rules through bold industrial strategies, Europe must catch up . We have to lead. The automotive industry is a good case study. It used to be a symbol of Europe's strength. Today, it finds itself at the crossroads of achieving climate goals , technological disruption, and growing geopolitical pressure. We need a reset,” the executive concluded.

For the Italian executive, the key is to move forward together: “No company can succeed alone. Europe must play as a team . That means a true industrial strategy that makes innovation affordable. Smarter and simpler regulation that enables rather than restricts. And technological sovereignty based on partnerships, not protectionism ,” De Meo concluded. A true declaration of intent that, when viewed from a distance, sounds like a farewell.

And while his departure to the Kering group may come as a surprise , Luca De Meo has taken pains to downplay his decision in a letter sent to Renault employees: “This is a personal decision, I am not running away,” he stated in the letter, leaked by Franceinfo . “I have intervened where transformation was needed, laying solid foundations to ensure the organization is prepared to thrive beyond my tenure. It has been the greatest privilege of my professional life to lead this legendary manufacturer,” concluded the current CEO of Renault .