---
title: "Report: Sergio Marchionne Currently in a Coma With Irreversible Brain Damage"
description: "Italian sources claim that Marchionne was diagnosed with a type of cancer in his shoulder."
date: "2018-07-24"
modified: "2018-07-25"
authors:
  - name: "Jerry Perez"
    job_title: "Deputy Editor"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/jerry-perez"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/22383/report-sergio-marchionne-currently-in-a-coma-with-irreversible-brain-damage"
categories:
  - "Chrysler News"
  - "Culture"
  - "News"
  - "News by Brand"
  - "People"
tags:
  - "automotive industry"
  - "automotive news"
  - "Breaking News"
  - "FCA"
  - "News"
  - "Sergio Marchionne"
---

# Report: Sergio Marchionne Currently in a Coma With Irreversible Brain Damage

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2018/07/gettyimages-631327968.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

Sergio Marchionne, the [former CEO](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/22317/sergio-marchionne-replaced-as-fca-ceo-amid-emergency-health-complications>) of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, is currently in a coma after suffering an embolism while undergoing shoulder surgery at a hospital in Zurich, Switzerland.

According to Italian news outlet [*Lettera43*](<https://www.lettera43.it/it/articoli/cronaca/2018/07/24/salute-marchionne-malattia-tumore-polmone-embolia/222159/>), Marchionne was diagnosed with invasive shoulder sarcoma, a type of cancer that tends to spread quickly through soft tissue and can only be removed via surgery. It was during the surgery to remove the cancerous tissue that Marchionne suffered an embolism and was put into a coma with irreversible brain damage. It must be noted that *Lettera43* cites anonymous sources for this information.

![message-editor%2F1532486094083-gettyimages-528990264.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1532486094083-gettyimages-528990264.jpg>)
*Sergio Marchionne and John Elkann., *GETTY**

What we do know so far is that Marchionne [underwent surgery](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/22342/report-marchionnes-condition-irreversible-after-post-surgery-complications>) on his right shoulder several weeks ago and that he had confirmed business appointments for late July. Once FCA was notified of Marchionne's ailing health conditions, the board accelerated the naming of a successor, electing Englishman Mike Manley to the role of CEO, with Agnelli-protege John Elkann acting as FCA president and [Ferrari chairman](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/22320/ailing-marchionne-replaced-as-ferrari-ceo-by-former-tobacco-executive>).

According to the [American Cancer Society](<https://www.cancer.org/cancer/soft-tissue-sarcoma/treating/by-stage.html>), there are four stages of soft tissue sarcoma and tumors can range from less than five centimeters to more than two inches. If caught during the early stages, the affected tissue can be easily removed, but if not treated it could spread to other cells and require radiation to cure. *Lettera43* also claims that Marchionne had commonly used cortisone to help with the main and maintain shoulder mobility.

An FCA spokesperson told *The Drive* that there weren't any official updates on Marchionne, while expressing an overall feeling of sadness and disbelief that's shared throughout the company.

## Author
Jerry is responsible for upholding The Drive's ethos as an audience-first, enthusiast-driven car blog that serves up industry-leading news, reviews, culture, and motorsport coverage. Overseeing a staff of writers and editors from his home base in Indianapolis, he helps curate the site's daily rundown, as well as its medium- and long-term content strategies. Jerry joined The Drive in 2018 as a writer and worked as news editor and managing editor before becoming the deputy in 2023. As a lifelong car enthusiast and racing fan, Jerry believes that all cars are cool, but the people behind the machines are even cooler. This belief often gives The Drive a slightly different focus from most other car sites, where we explore the humanity behind the machines. When he's not obsessing over the day's biggest stories or hanging out at a race track, Jerry can be found behind the wheel of a car, most likely sharing a laugh with his teenage son or daughter.

### Author social links  
[Instagram](<https://www.instagram.com/drive_jerry/>)