Yet another shock at the top of Nissan. The managing director Hiroto Saikawa will leave the leadership of the Japanese group next Monday, kicked out by the Board of Nissan due to allegations of financial irregularities. After Carlos Ghosn, former number one of Renault-Nissan under investigation for industrial and tax fraud, the Japanese company is facing yet another scandal.
“After a discussion, the Council asked him to resign as executive representative and CEO of the company, effective September 16, and he accepted. Effective the same day, Yasuhiro Yamauchi, executive director and general manager of Nissan, will become CEO. The Nissan Nominating Committee will accelerate its efforts to select a successor for the CEO position, with the aim of concluding the search by the end of October. These are the unequivocal words spoken by Yasushi Kimura, chairman of the board of directors of Nissan. Saikawa will officially leave his position as CEO on September 16th.
The manager had admitted to the press that in the past he had received compensation higher than he should have regularly received, announcing his intention to repay the sums received unduly. According to media reports, Saikawa would have received 47 million yen (about 400 thousand euros) in 2013 in the form of Sar, awards called "stock appreciation rights" that offer executives a cash bonus corresponding to a capital gain related to the increase in action of their company.
Beyond the internal events of the Japanese company, what many are interested in understanding is if the changing of the guard will reopen the games with Renault and, secondly, with FCA. In fact, Nissan, together with Mitsubishi, is linked by an "iron pact" with Renault. The French group holds 43,4% of Nissan Motors and the Japanese house holds 15% of Renault. The latter has been the focus of international attention in recent months for a possible merger with FCA, then set with a tough position taken by John Elkann.
Over the weekend, as part of the Ambrosetti Forum held in Cernobbio, French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire spoke of the need to strengthen the link between Nissan and Renault. A priority without which nothing else can be thought of (read FCA). According to analysts, however, the resignation of Saikawa, who has always been strongly opposed to the marriage between FCA and Renault, could reopen the games again and restart the negotiations between Italy and France.
At Piazza Affari the title fca gains 0,9% to 12,718 euros, while in Paris the title Renault recorded an increase of 2,25%.
