Former Rolls-Royce boss Karl-Heinz Kalbfell has been appointed to run the partnership of Fiat’s newly grouped sports brands, Alfa Romeo and Maserati.

Fiat said in a statement that Kalbfell would replace Martin Leach at the head of Maserati in the latest wave of management restructuring.

Last week, Fiat split Maserati out of its racing car unit Ferrari and said it would work more closely with Alfa Romeo in the future, while still keeping technological and commercial ties with Ferrari.