Fiat has appointed Paulo Massi as chief executive of Nanjing Fiat, its Chinese joint venture with Nanjing Auto.

Fiat said it was customary for the company to change chief executives every two years and that the appointment of Massi did not reflect dissatisfaction with Nanjing.

Massi, who has been on the board of Nanjing Fiat for three years, is the first Fiat representative to be chief executive at Nanjing Fiat. He replaces Su Tongchang.