Marriott agrees to pay $52 million, beef up data security to resolve probes over data breaches

A person walks past the San Francisco Marriott Union Square hotel on July 11, 2019, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File)

BY ALEX VEIGA
 October 9, 2024

Marriott International has agreed to pay $52 million and make changes to bolster its data security to resolve state and federal claims related to major data breaches that affected more than 300 million of its customers worldwide.

The Federal Trade Commission and a group of attorneys general from 49 states and the District of Columbia announced the terms of separate settlements with Marriott on Wednesday. The FTC and the states ran parallel investigations into three data breaches, which took place between 2014 and 2020.

As a result of the data breaches, “malicious actors” obtained the passport information, payment card numbers, loyalty numbers, dates of birth, email addresses and/or personal information from hundreds of millions of consumers, according to the FTC’s proposed complaint.

The FTC claimed that Marriott and subsidiary Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide’s poor data security practices led to the breaches.

Specifically, the agency alleged that the hotel operator failed to secure its computer system with appropriate password controls, network monitoring or other practices to safeguard data.

As part of its proposed settlement with the FTC, Marriott agreed to “implement a robust information security program” and provide all of its U.S. customers with a way to request that any personal information associated with their email address or loyalty rewards account number be deleted.

Marriott also settled similar claims brought by the group of attorneys general. In addition to agreeing to strengthen its data security practices, the hotel operator also will pay $52 million penalty to be split by the states.

In a statement on its website Wednesday, Bethesda, Maryland-based Marriott noted that it made no admission of liability as part of its agreements with the FTC and states. It also said it has already put in place data privacy and information security enhancements.

In early 2020, Marriott noticed that an unexpected amount of guest information was accessed using login credentials of two employees at a franchised property. At the time, the company estimated that the personal data of about 5.2. million guests worldwide might have been affected.

In November 2018, Marriott announced a massive data breach in which hackers accessed information on as many as 383 million guests. In that case, Marriott said unencrypted passport numbers for at least 5.25 million guests were accessed, as well as credit card information for 8.6 million guests. The affected hotel brands were operated by Starwood before it was acquired by Marriott in 2016.

The FBI led the investigation of that data theft, and investigators suspected the hackers were working on behalf of the Chinese Ministry of State Security, the rough equivalent of the CIA.

SPACE/COSMOS

NASA says comet expected to put on show in Earth fly-by


The Comet Neowise is visible in the sky over Shenandoah National Park near Front Royal, Virginia on July 18, 2020. A new comet discovered last year is expected to pass 44 million miles from Earth on Saturday. File Photo by Pat Benic/UPI | License Photo

Oct. 11 (UPI) -- A comet just discovered last year by observers will whizz past Earth from 44 million miles away but leave a trail of dust and gases visible to the naked eye, NASA said.

Comet Tsuchinshan-Atlas will make its closest approach to Earth on Saturday and won't be back for about 80,000 years, the space agency said. It is about two miles in diameter and its tail extends millions of miles.

Bill Cooke, of NASA's Meteoroid Environment Office at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., said the comet will appear in the sky like a fireball.

"It's not going to zing across the sky like a meteor," Cooke said, according to CNN. "It will just appear to hang there, and it will slowly change position from night to night. If you can see [the comet] with your unaided eye, [using] the binoculars will knock your socks off."

It was discovered by the Purple Mountain Observatory in China and the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System, ATLAS, telescope in South Africa. Scientists believe the comet was formed from the Oort Cloud, a spherical shell that surrounds the solar system.

"Bright comets are very rare and are usually newcomers to the inner solar system," Cooke said.

Powerful solar flare to begin producing auroras and possible electrical disruptions


The European Space Agency astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti captured this image showing a golden aurora with a splash of red through the stars during the night of December 13, 2014. A new aurora is expected to be seen through much of the United States Thursday night. File Photo by NASA/UPI | License Photo

Oct. 10 (UPI) -- Space weather watchers are expecting a powerful solar flare from the sun to reach Earth Thursday evening giving off a light show of colorful auroras as far south as Alabama and northern California.

According to the National Weather Service's Space Weather Prediction Center, the geomagnetic storm, expected to be seen much farther south than usual, could last through Friday. The flare could also hamper digital communications, the power grid, and satellites.

The solar storm has been classified as a Level 4 on a 1 to 5 scale, by the center, indicating how unusual it is for a solar flare so powerful to reach Earth. NASA said the flare has been classified as an X-1.4,with the X-class noting the most intense flares with the number giving its strength.

"This coronal mass ejection has been analyzed and speed estimates are 1,200 to 1,300 kilometers (746 to 809 miles) per second," said the Space Weather Prediction Center. "We won't know the characteristics of the CME until it arrives 1 million miles from Earth and its speed and magnetic intensity are measured."

Solar flares are powerful bursts of energy occasionally released by the sun into the solar system. While Earth's atmosphere protects the planet from the worst parts of such flares like radiation, it can still play havoc with radio waves and satellite communications but often leaves beautiful auroras.

NASA’s Europa Clipper spacecraft will scour Jupiter moon for the ingredients for life

A massive NASA spacecraft is ready to set sail for Jupiter and its moon Europa. The craft named Europa Clipper will peer beneath the moon’s icy crust and determine whether conditions there could support life.

This illustration provided by NASA depicts the Europa Clipper spacecraft over the moon, Europa, with Jupiter at background left. (NASA/JPL-Caltech via AP)

This illustration provided by NASA depicts the Europa Clipper spacecraft above the surface of the moon Europa, foreground, and Jupiter behind.

 (NASA/JPL-Caltech via AP)

BY MARCIA DUNN

 October 12, 2024


CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — A NASA spacecraft is ready to set sail for Jupiter and its moon Europa, one of the best bets for finding life beyond Earth.

Europa Clipper will peer beneath the moon’s icy crust where an ocean is thought to be sloshing fairly close to the surface. It won’t search for life, but rather determine whether conditions there could support it. Another mission would be needed to flush out any microorganisms lurking there.

“It’s a chance for us to explore not a world that might have been habitable billions of years ago, but a world that might be habitable today — right now,” said program scientist Curt Niebur.

Its massive solar panels make Clipper the biggest craft built by NASA to investigate another planet. It will take 5 1/2 years to reach Jupiter and will sneak within 16 miles (25 kilometers) of Europa’s surface — considerably closer than any other spacecraft.

Liftoff is targeted for this month aboard SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. Mission cost: $5.2 billion.
Europa, the superstar among Jupiter’s many moons

One of Jupiter’s 95 known moons, Europa is almost the size of our own moon. It’s encased in an ice sheet estimated to be 10 miles to 15 miles or more (15 kilometers to 24 kilometers) thick. Scientists believe this frozen crust hides an ocean that could be 80 miles (120 kilometers) or more deep. The Hubble Space Telescope has spotted what appear to be geysers erupting from the surface. Discovered by Galileo in 1610, Europa is one of the four so-called Galilean moons of Jupiter, along with Ganymede, Io and Callisto.


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Seeking conditions that support life

What type of life might Europa harbor? Besides water, organic compounds are needed for life as we know it, plus an energy source. In Europa’s case that could be thermal vents on the ocean floor. Deputy project scientist Bonnie Buratti imagines any life would be primitive like the bacterial life that originated in Earth’s deep ocean vents. “We will not know from this mission because we can’t see that deep,” she said. Unlike missions to Mars where habitability is one of many questions, Clipper’s sole job is to establish whether the moon could support life in its ocean or possibly in any pockets of water in the ice.

Supersized spacecraft

When its solar wings and antennas are unfurled, Clipper is about the size of a basketball court — more than 100 feet (30 meters) end to end — and weighs nearly 13,000 pounds (6,000 kilograms). The supersized solar panels are needed because of Jupiter’s distance from the sun. The main body — about the size of a camper — is packed with nine science instruments, including radar that will penetrate the ice, cameras that will map virtually the entire moon and tools to tease out the contents of Europa’s surface and tenuous atmosphere. The name hearkens to the swift sailing ships of centuries past.

Circling Jupiter to fly by Europa

The roundabout trip to Jupiter will span 1.8 billion miles (3 billion kilometers). For extra oomph, the spacecraft will swing past Mars early next year and then Earth in late 2026. It arrives at Jupiter in 2030 and begins science work the next year. While orbiting Jupiter, it will cross paths with Europa 49 times. The mission ends in 2034 with a planned crash into Ganymede — Jupiter’s biggest moon and the solar system’s too.

Europa flybys pose huge radiation risk

There’s more radiation around Jupiter than anywhere else in our solar system, besides the sun. Europa passes through Jupiter’s bands of radiation as it orbits the gas giant, making it especially menacing for spacecraft. That’s why Clipper’s electronics are inside a vault with dense aluminum and zinc walls. All this radiation would nix any life on Europa’s surface. But it could break down water molecules and, perhaps, release oxygen all the way down into the ocean that could possibly fuel sea life.

Earlier this year, NASA was in a panic that the spacecraft’s many transistors might not withstand the intense radiation. But after months of analysis, engineers concluded the mission could proceed as planned.

Other visitors to Jupiter and Europa

NASA’s twin Pioneer spacecraft and then two Voyagers swept past Jupiter in the 1970s. The Voyagers provided the first detailed photos of Europa but from quite a distance. NASA’s Galileo spacecraft had repeated flybys of the moon during the 1990s, passing as close as 124 miles (200 kilometers). Still in action around Jupiter, NASA’s Juno spacecraft has added to Europa’s photo album. Arriving at Jupiter a year after Clipper will be the European Space Agency’s Juice spacecraft, launched last year.

Ganymede and other possible ocean worlds

Like Europa, Jupiter’s jumbo moon Ganymede is thought to host an underground ocean. But its frozen shell is much thicker — possibly 100 miles (160 kilometers) thick — making it tougher to probe the environment below. Callisto’s ice sheet may be even thicker, possibly hiding an ocean. Saturn’s moon Enceladus has geysers shooting up, but it’s much farther than Jupiter. Ditto for Saturn’s moon Titan, also suspected of having a subterranean sea. While no ocean worlds have been confirmed beyond our solar system, scientists believe they’re out there — and may even be relatively common.

Messages in a cosmic bottle

Like many robotic explorers before it, Clipper bears messages from Earth. Attached to the electronics vault is a triangular metal plate. On one side is a design labeled “water words” with representations of the word for water in 104 languages. On the opposite side: a poem about the moon by U.S. poet laureate Ada Limon and a silicon chip containing the names of 2.6 million people who signed up to vicariously ride along.
___


The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

Poland’s leader plans to suspend the right to asylum as country faces pressure on Belarus border


 Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk pauses as he speaks, during a news conference following his meeting with Lithuania’s Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte at the government’s headquarters in Vilnius, Lithuania, on March 4, 2024.

 (AP Photo/Mindaugas Kulbis, File)

 October 12, 2024


WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Poland’s leader said Saturday that he plans to temporarily suspend the right to asylum as part of a new migration policy, pointing to its alleged abuse by eastern neighbor Belarus and Russia.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk said that “the state must regain 100% of the control over who enters and leaves Poland,” and that a territorial suspension of the right to asylum will be part of a strategy that will be presented to a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Polish news agency PAP reported.

He didn’t give details, but said at a convention of his Civic Coalition that “we will reduce illegal migration in Poland to a minimum.”

Poland has struggled with migration pressures on its border with Belarus since 2021. Successive Polish governments have accused Belarus and Russia of luring migrants from the Middle East and Africa there to destabilize the West.

Tusk pointed to alleged misuse of the right to asylum “by (Belarusian President Alexander) Lukashenko, by (Russian President Vladimir) Putin, by smugglers, human smugglers, human traffickers. How this right to asylum is used is in exact contradiction to the idea of the right to asylum.”

He said that he would demand recognition of the decision on the right to asylum from the European Union, PAP reported.

Tusk’s comments came after Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski said on Thursday that Poland will tighten its visa regulations, stepping up the vetting of applicants. That decision follows an investigation into a cash-for-visas scandal under the country’s previous government.
___

Follow AP’s coverage of migration issues at https://apnews.com/hub/migration

All of Broadway’s theater lights will dim for actor Gavin Creel after an outcry

not dimming all the lights was a “travesty to this brilliant actor who put money in pockets and joy in audiences.”

Gavin Creel, who plays Claude in the musical “Hair”, poses for a picture in New York on April 23, 2009. Creel died Monday of a rare and aggressive form of cancer. He was 48. 

(AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)

BY MARK KENNEDY
, October 9, 2024


NEW YORK (AP) — All of Broadway’s marquees will dim to honor the life of Gavin Creel following an outcry by theater fans when only a partial dimming was proposed after the 48-year-old Tony Award-winner’s death last month.

The Committee of Theatre Owners on Wednesday said all 41 Broadway theaters would dim their lights on separate nights for Creel, Adrian Bailey and Maggie Smith. The committee also said it was “reviewing their current dimming policy and procedures.”

The death of Creel on Sept. 30 put the spotlight on the practice of dimming marquee lights after a notable theater figure has died. While giants in the field get all of Broadway theaters dark for a minute, lesser figures may only have partial dimming.

Creel’s death prompted the Committee of Theatre Owners to decide that one theater from every theater owner would dim their lights. An online petition demanding all theaters participate was signed by over 23,000 people.

Actors’ Equity, which represents thousands of performers and stage managers, expressed their concern, saying “everyone who receives the tribute deserves the full tribute.” Playwright Paula Vogel said not dimming all the lights was a “travesty to this brilliant actor who put money in pockets and joy in audiences.”


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Creel was a Broadway musical theater veteran who won a Tony for “Hello, Dolly!” opposite Bette Midler and earned nominations for “Hair” and “Thoroughly Modern Millie.”

Partial dimming in the past has been enacted for theater producer Elizabeth Ireland McCann and Marin Mazzie. The decision on Mazzie was overturned to a full dimming after a similar outcry.

The date for the dimming tribute for Creel and Smith has yet to be announced. The tribute for Bailey, who appeared in 15 Broadway productions, is set for Oct. 17.

WAIT, WHAT?!

Woman pleads guilty to trying to smuggle 29 turtles across a Vermont lake into Canada by kayak


 A male Eastern Box Turtle moves across a path at Wildwood Lake Sanctuary in Harrisburg, Pa., May, 2, 2009. 

(AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)

 October 11, 2024


BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) — A woman from China pleaded guilty on Friday to attempting to smuggle 29 eastern box turtles, a protected species, across a Vermont lake into Canada by kayak.

Wan Yee Ng, 41, was arrested on the morning of June 28 at an Airbnb in Canaan as she was about to get into an inflatable kayak with a duffle bag on Lake Wallace, according to a Border Patrol agent’s affidavit filed in federal court.

Agents had been notified by Royal Canadian Mounted Police that two other people, including a man who was believed to be her husband, had started to paddle an inflatable watercraft from the Canadian side of the lake toward the United States, according to court documents.

The agents searched her heavy duffle bag and found 29 live eastern box turtles individually wrapped in socks, the affidavit states. Eastern box turtles are known to be sold on the Chinese black market for $1,000 each, the affidavit stated.

Her cellphone was seized, and a search by law enforcement found communications showing that she tried to smuggle the turtles into Canada so that they could eventually be sold for a profit in Hong Kong, according to the plea agreement. Ng, from Hong Kong, was living in Canada.

She pleaded guilty on Friday to one count of unlawfully attempting to export and send 29 eastern box turtles out of the United States, contrary to law. VTDigger first reported on the plea deal.

She is scheduled to be sentenced in December and faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

After 6 decades, Guitar Player magazine to release final print edition

Oct. 10, 2024 


The publication Guitar Player still will exist online at GuitarPlayer.com, where it will continue to publish digital content about guitars, the people who play them and the stories about both. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo

Oct. 10 (UPI) -- Guitar Player, the world's most iconic magazine devoted to all aspects of the guitar and published consecutively for close to six decades, is shuttering its print edition.

The publication still will exist online at GuitarPlayer.com, where it will continue to publish digital content about guitars, the people who play them and the stories about both.

"You have witnessed a revolution," Christopher Scapelliti, editor of Guitar Player for the last half dozen years, said of the glossy print magazine, which has become slimmer in recent years, driven by a drop in ad revenue. Other classic publications have faced a similar demise, largely for the same reasons.

"When Guitar Player made its debut 58 years ago in 1967, it marked a new era for guitar," Scapelliti continued. "For the first time, the instrument was celebrated in a regularly published magazine devoted to furthering guitarists, guitar gear and its makers, and guitar virtuosity. What founder Bud Eastman began laid the first stone of an empire that would go on to launch many other magazines -- including Bass Player, Frets and Keyboard -- publish books, release records and videos, and much more."

Guitar Player magazine ran in print for 57 years.

Its maiden edition in 1968 featured an article about a tall, lanky guy with untamed hair from Seattle, a rogue newcomer to the rock scene who had an uncanny ability to pull sounds out of this electric guitar that few had previously achieved. His name: Jimi Hendrix.

For the final edition, on sale October 15th, Guitar Player will close its storied history with a cover story on former Led Zeppelin guitar master and rock and roll legend Jimmy Page, who recently worked with Gibson to release a $50,000 replica of the double-neck guitar he used on Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven." In the piece, Page will discuss re-creating the guitar and the amplifiers he used on the song.

The December issue of Guitar Player, its last, will go on sale next week.

1 Dead, 12 trapped 1,000 feet down rescued following elevator mishap at Colo. mine

Oct. 10 (UPI) -- Twelve people trapped 1,000 feet below ground following an equipment malfunction at a mining tourism site near Colorado Springs, Colo., were rescued Thursday night, authorities said. One person was killed during the incident.

A "mechanical issue" disabled an elevator transporting tourists into the Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine Tour in Cripple Creek resulting in the death of one passenger, Teller County Sheriff Jason Mikesell told reporters.

Eleven others aboard the car were rescued, four suffering minor injuries, when mine operators succeeded in bringing it back up to the surface from the 500-foot level where the mishap occurred.

Twelve adult out-of-state tourists already at the bottom of the mine, 1,000 feet below the surface, were stranded. Mikesell had earlier stated: "They are safe at that level."

They have food, water and blankets available, he said.

Mikesell told reporters during a second press conference Thursday night that all 12 had been rescued from the mine, located in the Rocky Mountains about 35 miles west of Colorado Springs.

He said they were rescued via the elevator system, none were injured and that they were surprised to find out that there were the focus of national media.

"They're all in good spirits. We fed them pizza -- that's what they wanted," he said. "So, there's a good news story at the end of this, and that's really what we were hoping for today.

The dozen people had been trapped for about six hours below ground. Mikesell said those trapped were informed that there was an "elevator issue." Speaking with the victims after being rescued, those who had been trapped told authorities they were "very thankful" to have not been informed of the full extent of the situation, Mikesell explained.

"I think that would have caused a little more of an angst of about how do we get out of here," he said.

Concerning the deceased victim, he said they had died of a "a tragic accident" related to the "malfunction of the elevator."

An investigation will uncover exactly what happened, he said, adding that additional information concerning the deceased victim will be released at a later date, as they are still communicating with the family.

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis said in a statement he was "relieved" the dozen people have been rescued.

"Thanks to this collaborative effort, each of these individuals will return home safely," the governor said.

Two dead, dozens attended to following chemical leak at Texas plant

Oct. 11, 2024 

The Texas city of Deer Park is under a shelter-in-place order following a chemical leak at a PEMEX plant. Image courtesy of Harris County Sheriff's Office/Facebook


Oct. 10 (UPI) -- Two people are dead and more than two dozen others received medical treatment following a chemical leak at a PEMEX facility in the Houston suburb of Deer Park, officials and authorities said late Thursday as they lifted shelter-in-place orders that had forced thousands to stay indoors.

PEMEX, a Mexican state-owned petroleum company, said in a statement that the gas leak was reported at one of its Deer Park refinery processing units, located at 5900 Highway 225, at about 4:40 p.m. local time.

The City of Deer Park announced the updated death toll in a statement late Thursday, adding that 35 employees were triaged at the scene. Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez had earlier said one person was dead and five were injured, including one person who was airlifted from the scene by a Life Flight helicopter.

Originally described as an unknown chemical release, Gonzalez later identified the agent as hydrogen sulfide, a flammable, highly toxic gas.

A shelter-in-place order had been issued for all 34,495 residents of Deer Park at about 7:30 p.m., but it was lifted at 9:30 p.m.

Texas State Highway 225 was closed in both directions near Beltway 8 because of the emergency.

PEMEX said emergency protocols were activated following the leak and notifications were sent out to local authorities. According to the City of Deer Park, the Harris County Sheriff's Office was notified of the emergency at 5:23 p.m.

"To mitigate the impact, the operation of the coking unit and hydro treatment units was proactively stopped, and safety venting was carried out, notifying the authorities through the mechanisms outlined by the protocol," PEMEX said.

"No impact on the community has been reported."

CRIMINAL CAPITALI$M

Teva pays $450 million to settle kickback scheme charges

Oct. 10, 2024 

The Teva Pharmaceutical logo is seen in English and Hebrew at its tablet production plant in Jerusalem in 2019. The company agreed Thursday to pay $450 million to settle charges stemming from two kickback schemes. 

File Photo by Debbie Hill/UPI | License Photo

Oct. 10 (UPI) -- Teva Pharmaceuticals, the largest generic drug manufacturer in the United States, has agreed to pay $450 million to resolve two claims that allege the company violated the Anti-Kickback Statute, the Justice Department announced Thursday.

"Kickbacks designed to induce referrals or purchases of healthcare goods or services distort physician and patient decision-making, thwart competition and bypass controls put in place to protect federal health care programs," Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian Boynton, head of the Justice Department's Civil Division, said in a statement.

"The Justice Department is committed to pursuing those who engage in kickback violations, including drug manufacturers, to ensure that federal health care programs continue to serve the interests of taxpayers and program beneficiaries."

UPI has contacted Teva for comment.

One of the cases alleges Teva violated the kickback law by conspiring to pay Medicare patients' copays for the multiple sclerosis drug Copaxone from 2006 through 2017, while simultaneously raising Copaxone's price.

The U.S. accused Teva of conspiring with multiple third parties, including a specialty pharmacy and two independent copay assistance foundations, to ensure that donations to the foundations were used to cover the copays of Medicare Copaxone copays.

The Justice Department said that Teva this conduct "was prohibited by the AKS, and that Teva thereby caused the submission of false claims to Medicare."

In the second case, Teva allegedly conspired with three other generic drug manufacturers to fix prices for pravastatin, medicine used to treat high cholesterol and triglycerides, as well as clotrimazole and tobramycin, two other generic drugs. Under terms of the deal, Teva paid a criminal penalty of $225 million, admitted to the conspiracy and price-fixing charges and that the scheme amounted to receiving illegal kickbacks.

"For far too long, Teva gamed the charitable foundation process by paying kickbacks through two foundations, and with the aid of a specialty pharmacy. Those kickbacks undermined the purpose of the Medicare co-pay system and violated the Anti-Kickback Statute," said Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua Levy for the District of Massachusetts.

The Medicare program's copay structure is designed to act as a safeguard against the artificial inflation of drug prices. The integrity of that system is jeopardized when drug companies manipulate prices through conspiracy, collusion or kickback schemes disguised as charitable contributions, the Justice Department added.

Nearly two years ago, Teva agreed to pay $523 million to settle claims over its involvement in the opioid crisis in New York. The agreement was the largest amount secured from an individual opioid defendant as the state targeted opioid manufacturers and distributors.

Last month, Teva settled with the city of Baltimore for $80 million for its role in contributing to that city's opioid crisis.

Stellantis CEO Tavares to retire in 2026 amid auto industry 'Darwinian period'

THEY ARE THE DINOSAUR OF THE AUTO INDUSTRY

Oct. 11, 2024 


Stellantis said Friday CEO Carlos Tavares (C) will retire in early 2026 amid what Tavares called a "Darwinian period" in the global auto industry. The struggling company also announced other management changes after third quarter sales plunged. File Photo by Christophe Petit Tesson/EPA

Oct. 11 (UPI) -- Stellantis said Friday CEO Carlos Tavares will retire in early 2026 as the struggling company announced what it called targeted management changes in a turbulent global environment for the auto industry.

A Special Committee of the Board is working to find a successor for Tavares. Stellantis said the committee will complete that work by the fourth quarter of 2025.

"During this Darwinian period for the automotive industry, our duty and ethical responsibility is to adapt and prepare ourselves for the future, better and faster than our competitors to deliver clean, safe and affordable mobility," Tavares said.

Stellantis also announced a series of other leadership changes.

Related

Stellantis Q3 sales fall 20%, weighed down by Chrysler, Dodge
Stellantis recalls 154K Jeep Wrangler, Grand Cherokee hybrids for fire risk

Effective immediately, Stellantis said Friday Antonio Filosa is the new North America Chief Operating Officer in addition to his role as Jeep brand CEO. He succeeds Carlos Zarlenga "whose next position will be subject to a further announcement."

Jean-Philippe Imparato is the new Chief Operating Officer Enlarged Europe. He will also continue as CEO of Pro One, succeeding Uwe Hochgeschurtz, who will leave the Company.

Doug Ostermann is the new Stellantis Chief Financial Officer, succeeding Natalie Knight, who will leave the company.

Gregoire Olivier becomes the new CEO for Stellantis in China and retains his Liaison Officer to Leapmotor position.

Santo Ficili is taking over as CEO of Maserati and Alfa Romeo.

Stellantis is also moving its Supply Chain organization into its Manufacturing Division, led by Arnaud Deboeuf. It's moved from the Purchasing Division led by Maxine Picat.

"The newly appointed leadership team members will make their valuable contributions to our overall team's determination to tackle the challenges ahead, reinforcing and accelerating our transformation to become the preferred mobility tech company," said Tavares.

Stellantis Chairman of the Board John Elian said the board "is unanimous in its support of Carlos Tavares and for the decisive changes announced today."

"We are confident that these steps to simplify our organization will strengthen our leadership team as they work to restore the Company's performance to industry-leading levels," he said.

Stellantis third quarter 2024 sales fell 20% with Chrysler and Dodge brand sales plunging by 47% and 43% respectively.

The company also recalled 154,000 Jeep Wrangler and Grand Cherokee hybrids for fire risks Oct. 1.

The UAW is accusing Stellantis of violating its labor contract with the union on manufacturing commitments in the United States. The union is holding a strike authorization vote.

"Thousands of UAW members sacrificed on the picket line to win this contract, and we intend to enforce it, even if that means going back on strike," the UAW said in a statement on its website.

The UAW said Stellantis "will kill thousands of jobs" in the United States by moving Dodge Durango production from the Detroit Assembly Complex to Canada.