Korea Imported Car Association Suspends Pablo Rosso, Chairman, Over Sexual Harassment Allegations

by Woo Sooyoun

Published 29 Jul.2020 10:39(KST)

[Asia Economy Reporter Su-yeon Woo] The Korea Imported Automobile Association has decided to suspend Pablo Rosso, the president of the Korea Imported Car Association (FCA Korea president), who is under internal investigation for allegations of sexual harassment, verbal abuse, and assault.

On the 29th, the Korea Imported Automobile Association stated, "Regarding the allegations recently mentioned in the media, it has been judged that it is difficult to normally perform the duties of the president of the Imported Car Association. Therefore, on the 28th, an emergency temporary board meeting was convened, and the suspension of the president's duties at the association level was resolved." They added, "We plan to consider other follow-up measures at the association level once the investigation results are available."

Pablo Rosso, president of FCA Korea, was elected as president of the Imported Car Association for a two-year term through the association's regular general meeting in March this year. Due to this suspension, the vacancy will be temporarily filled by Lim Han-gyu, the full-time director of the Imported Car Association.

Earlier, on the 22nd, a claim was raised on the Blue House's public petition board alleging that President Rosso made inappropriate remarks to a female employee and committed verbal abuse and assault. FCA's U.S. headquarters and Asia-Pacific regional headquarters began an internal investigation and on the 24th temporarily suspended Rosso from his position as president of FCA Korea.

Rosso started as Alfa Romeo Overseas Sales Manager at Fiat Group in 2004, then oversaw the Fiat-Chrysler India joint venture project in 2011. From the end of 2012, he was appointed president of Chrysler Korea, and in March of this year, he was appointed as the first foreigner to serve as president of the Korea Imported Automobile Association.