If Massimo Fumarola's parents had had a different next-door neighbour in Milan four decades ago, he probably would never have moved to Worcestershire in 2022 to become the fourth-ever CEO of the Morgan Motor Company. That neighbour was none other than the chairman of Italy's Morgan Motor Club, who Fumarola recalls as "a typical Morgan fan, always talking about how much he loved his cars".
When Fumarola left home, it was to train as an engineer and then join various large automotive companies. He took jobs at Ferrari, Lamborghini and the Volkswagen Group, among others, in an eventful early career that centred in recent years on international marketing.
When Morgan's new owner, the Italian venture capital company Investindustrial, offered Fumarola the chance to run one of the world's oldest (albeit smallest) car makers, he grabbed it with both hands.
"It was a dream," he says when we meet and talk at Morgan's London dealership. "How many chances do you get to work in the motor industry for 30 years and then to go back to what you enjoyed as a boy?"
From the start, he discovered there was much to do at Malvern. It was clear from indifferent earnings (a pre-tax profit of just £3 million in pre-Covid 2019 and a £700,000 loss in 2020) that the new investors would seek better returns.
Within a week of his arrival, Morgan was forced to announce a recall of three years of production for suspected brake problems. "Nothing bad happened," says Fumarola, "but a component supplier let us down. It was the safest thing to do."
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
MG 4
An EV changes your driving style - but not to the detriment of pleasure
PEUGEOT E-208
Time with our French hatch is up. Is it good riddance or au revoir?
In the hot seat
Is the best automotive job in the world actually in miniature scale? Hot Wheels' design boss assures STEPHEN DOBIE it is
Correcting the record
Autocar invented the road test back in 1928 - or did we? KEITH JONES trawls the past to find the true starting point
Road test rebooted
As the Autocar road test forges into its second century, its brief is expanding and it's returning to a familiar place. MATT SAUNDERS explains
Cyber attack
MG is back on the international stage and now trying to return to its sports car roots. MATT SAUNDERS sees if the Cyberster EV can match up to a rival from the present and a relation from the past
KIA PICANTO
As rivals fall by the wayside, Kia's popular city car gets a makeover
MASERATI GRANTURISMO
Latest coupé in a long line of Maserati GT cars hits the UK with V6 power
PORSCHE CAYENNE GTS COUPE
New V8 model gets all the goodies
TOYOTA PRIUS
Back by popular demand with a cool new look and greater driver appeal