Renault appoints new bosses after Ghosn goes
January 24, 2019
French carmaker Renault on Thursday named Thierry Bollore as its new chief executive and Jean-Dominique Senard as its chairman, a day after Carlos Ghosn reportedly resigned from both roles.
The company said it gave Senard "full responsibility" for managing Renault's alliance with Japanese carmakers Nissan and Mitsubishi. Senard had been chief executive of tire company Michelin since 2012.
Bollore, who has been with the company since 2012, took over as deputy chief executive officer in November after Renault's former chief executive and chairman, Carlos Ghosn, was arrested in Japan.
The announcement came hours after reports that Ghosn had stepped down from both roles.
"Carlos Ghosn just resigned last night," French Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire told Bloomberg at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Renault sources also confirmed the move, according to German news agency DPA.
Fall from grace
Before Ghosn was arrested for alleged financial misconduct, the 64-year-old served as a top executive at Renault, Nissan and Mitsubishi. He was considered a key figure in establishing and then maintaining the alliance.
Ghosn's departure could help ease tensions that emerged between Renault and Nissan following his arrest.
Japanese authorities accused Ghosn of understating his salary at Nissan by 5 billion yen (€40 million, $45 million) from 2011 to 2015. He denies any wrongdoing.
Nissan and Mitsubishi fired him as chairman shortly after his arrest.
amp/rt (AFP, Reuters, dpa)