Valeo has announced the appointment of Jean-Luc Terrasse as Chief Executive Officer of the Valeo Light business and Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Group, effective July 1, 2026. In his new role, he joins the company’s Executive Committee and will report directly to Christophe Périllat. The appointment comes as Valeo continues to advance its Elevate 2028 strategic plan, under which the lighting business is expected to play a central role in driving profitable growth while supporting the development of safer and smarter mobility solutions.
Jean-Luc Terrasse brings more than three decades of international leadership experience across Europe and South America. During his career, he has managed large-scale industrial operations, product development, commercial activities and business transformation initiatives. His experience spans multiple areas of the automotive industry, positioning him to lead the next phase of growth for Valeo’s lighting business.
Announcing the appointment, Christophe Périllat said the Valeo Light division is a key pillar of the company’s long-term growth strategy. He noted that Mr Terrasse has a deep understanding of the automotive market, extensive operational expertise and strong knowledge of Valeo’s industrial culture. According to Périllat, these strengths will help accelerate innovation, improve business performance and reinforce the company’s leadership in automotive safety and lighting technologies.
Mr Périllat also thanked Maurizio Martinelli for his 26 years of service with the company. Mr Martinelli most recently served as Chief Executive Officer of Valeo Light and played an important role in expanding the division’s technology portfolio and strengthening its market position. Valeo acknowledged his contribution to the company’s growth and wished him well following his retirement.
Jean-Luc Terrasse joined Valeo in 1989 and has held a series of leadership positions across several business divisions. His experience includes operations management, industrial engineering, product development and commercial leadership in areas such as engine control systems, electronics and specialised lighting products.
In January 2016, he was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Valeo Wiper Systems, where he led the division’s global operations and business development initiatives. During his career, he also gained industry experience outside Valeo through leadership roles at Alstom Grid, Johnson Controls and Safran. A graduate of the École Centrale de Lyon (ENISE), Mr Terrasse will now lead Valeo Light as the company continues to expand its global footprint and strengthen its position in advanced automotive lighting technologies.
