Philippe Krief Appointed As Renault Group's New Chief Technology Officer

Published: Thursday, July 18, 2024, 15:36 [IST]

Philippe Krief will assume the role of Renault Group Chief Technology Officer (CTO) on September 1, 2024, succeeding Gilles Le Borgne. His goal is to place Renault Group at the forefront of innovation, providing advanced products and technologies amidst significant changes in the automotive industry. With extensive experience in automotive engineering, he will continue as CEO of Alpine while leading necessary engineering changes as CTO.

Boulogne-Billancourt, July 18, 2024 - Renault Group has announced that Philippe Krief will be appointed Chief Technology Officer from September 1. He will also maintain his current responsibilities within the Alpine brand. Krief will replace Gilles Le Borgne, who has been assigned a strategic advisory role to the CEO. As CTO, reporting to CEO Luca de Meo, Philippe will oversee all engineering activities and resources within the Group.

Philippe Krief's mission includes leading a team that anticipates and creates future innovations and products. A key challenge is developing next-generation "intelligent" vehicles faster than competitors. As CEO of Alpine for the past year, he has implemented the brand's strategy and introduced new vehicles like the A290 and an upcoming GT crossover. Under his leadership, Alpine has accelerated its development of high-performance electric vehicles.

Krief's tenure at Alpine also saw advancements in hydrogen power with the Alpenglow Hy4 prototype, showcasing innovative hydrogen engine technology. Luca de Meo praised Gilles Le Borgne for contributing to Renault's rapid turnaround and regaining engineering efficiency. De Meo expressed confidence that Krief would drive further progress by leveraging his extensive experience.

A graduate of Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Techniques Avancées, Philippe Krief has worked on various models ranging from B-segment cars to luxury vehicles worth millions. He began his career at Michelin before moving to Fiat Group, Ferrari, and Maserati. At Ferrari, he served as Vehicle Department Director and Technical Director for Alfa Romeo before returning as Director of Engineering in June 2016.

On February 21, 2023, Krief was appointed Director of Engineering and Product Performance for Alpine before becoming CEO. His diverse background equips him well for his new role at Renault Group.

Renault Group's Vision

Renault Group is committed to reinventing mobility through its alliance with Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors and its expertise in electrification. The Group comprises four brands: Renault, Dacia, Alpine, and Mobilize. In 2023, it sold 2.235 million vehicles across more than 130 countries and employs over 105,000 people dedicated to making mobility more accessible.

The Group aims for an ambitious transformation focused on new technologies and services while developing a competitive range of electrified vehicles. It plans to achieve carbon neutrality in Europe by 2040.

Luca de Meo stated: "Gilles has contributed to our company's spectacular turnaround... My warmest thanks to him... Philippe... will drive forward a new dynamic... Let's not forget that motorsport is a laboratory of innovation for our vehicles."

Renault Group continues to pursue challenges both on the road and in competition while committing to environmental goals.