Jean Todt promoted, top technician and tactician move on (ANSA) - Maranello, October 26 - The break-up of the 'dream team' which steered Ferrari to glory in recent years became clear on Thursday as the group confirmed a series of appointments and job switches .

Racing team chief Jean Todt, who joined Ferrari in 1993 and has been a key architect in its subsequent triumphs, is to take over the chief executive position held until now by Chairman Luca Cordero di Montezemolo .

The 60-year-old Frenchman will keep his role as team chief, but only 'ad interim', Ferrari said in a statement, implicitly indicating that he will soon be leaving the racing team .

The statement also said that race tactician Ross Brawn is now to concentrate on his "private life" and Paolo Martinelli, the chief engine technician, has stepped down and is to take a executive post at Fiat .


"It is sad to see such an important chapter in the history of Ferrari close, even though I know that this is just part of life," Todt said. "They were extraordinary years from a professional and human point of view" .

By taking over as chief executive, Todt will free the hands of Montezemolo, who will be able to free to concentrate fully on overseeing the operations of Ferrari's parent company Fiat .

Todt's promotion to Ferrari CEO "strengthens the company's management," Fiat Managing Director Sergio Marchionne commented .

Ferrari's seven-times world champion Michael Schumacher raced his last grand prix earlier this month, symbolically ending an era at the group which has always seen racing as a central part of its identity .

Schumacher is to stay on at Ferrari next year, although it has yet to be revealed in what role .

The flurry of changes at Ferrari leave little of the squad which brought the team 11 world titles between 1999 and 2004 and confirm speculation that the team starting out in 2007 will mark the arrival of a 'new generation' .

Ferrari's drivers next season will be Brazilian Felipe Massa, in his second season at the team, and Finland's Kimi Raikkonen in the place of Schumacher .