TURIN, May 31 (Reuters) - Sergio Marchionne, an independent member of Fiat's board and the chairman of Swiss chemicals group Lonza , is the front runner to take over as Fiat chief executive, a financial source said on Monday.
Fiat's board will meet on Tuesday at 1200 GMT to pick a new CEO after Giuseppe Morchio resigned late on Sunday in protest at Ferrari chief Luca di Montezemolo being given the post of Fiat chairman, left vacant after Umberto Agnelli died last week.
"Marchionne is the most likely choice," the source said.