Heads roll at Renault

Renault has implemented sweeping changes to its management structure following its industrial espionage affair, with chief operating officer Patrick Pelata's request to resign accepted by the board, though he has been offered a role elsewhere in the Renault-Nissan alliance.

FRANCE: Renault appoints Carlos Tavares as new COO

31 May 2011

Renault has unveiled Carlos Tavares as its new chief operating officer following the resignation of Patrick Pelata as a result of the the automaker's so-called spy affair.

FRANCE: Renault declines comment on Nissan's Tavares replacing Pelata

25 May 2011

Renault is declining to comment on reports Nissan executive vice president and Americas region chief Carlos Tavares is being lined up to take former chief operating officer Patrick Pelata's role.

FRANCE: Renault to unveil new COO "in weeks"

19 April 2011

Renault says it will be a "matter of weeks" before it announces the successor to former chief operating officer (COO) Patrick Pelata.

COMMENT: Renault's French president's man

19 April 2011

There are some pretty wild figures flying around in France at the moment concerning any possible compensation to Renault's sacked three execs.

FRANCE: Pelata resigns COO post as Renault turns "painful leaf"

12 April 2011

FRANCE: French media say Pelata resigns in 'spy' affair

11 April 2011

French media are widely reporting Renault chief operating officer Patrick Pelata has stepped down following the manufacturer's industrial espionage case, although the automaker was not immediately available to verify any resignation.

FRANCE: Finance minister floats Renault resignations if mistakes made

11 April 2011

France's Finance Minister says if faults have been committed by those at the heart of Renault's so-called spy affair, they should leave.

FRANCE: Renault coy on sacked three executives meeting date

21 March 2011

Renault is declining to say when it will meet the three sacked executives in its alleged spy affair or comment on political remarks surrounding the matter.

COMMENT: No French revolution at Renault yet

18 March 2011

It's quite the season for auto CEOs to be summoned by the political top brass.

FRANCE: Ghosn urged to address "dysfunction" in Renault spy affair

18 March 2011

Senior French government ministers have demanded to know what caused the "dysfunction" at the heart of the Renault spy scandal.

COMMENT: Can embattled Renault bosses hold out?

16 March 2011

Time to take a deep breath in Renault's story of spooks, Swiss accounts and flights to West Africa.

FRANCE: Industry Minister welcomes Renault apology in spy affair

16 March 2011

A French government minister has welcomed the apology by Renault to its three sacked employees following their exoneration in the alleged industrial espionage affair.

FRANCE: Sacked Renault three receive apology from Carlos Ghosn

14 March 2011

Renault has apologised to the three executives sacked in the alleged industrial espionage case and has committed itself to "reparations."

FRANCE: Renault board meets to discuss spy affair update

14 March 2011

Renault's board is to meet later today (14 March) as the intrigue surrounding the alleged espionage case shows no sign of abating

FRANCE: Sacked Renault exec appeals to President Sarkozy: report

11 March 2011

One of Renault's sacked executives embroiled in its alleged industrial espionage case has appealed directly to President Sarkozy to intervene.

FRANCE: Renault paid EUR250,000 to investigator: report

10 March 2011

US media are reporting Renault allegedly paid EUR250,000 (US$346,000) to a private investigator as the automaker's alleged espionage case undergoes yet a further twist.

COMMENT: Sacked Renault three grow stronger

8 March 2011

A head of steam appears to be building in France surrounding Renault's three sacked executives in its supposed industrial espionage case, with the unions now adding to the increasing volume.

FRANCE: Industry Minister adds to Renault execs compensation chorus

7 March 2011

A senior French government member has echoed trade union calls for compensation to be made available to Renault's three sacked executives if they are cleared by an inquiry into supposed spying at the automaker.

FRANCE: Renault waits for inquiry decision as COO speculation swirls

7 March 2011

Renault says it prefers to wait for any decision by the Paris Prosecutor before adding to comments made by its chief operating officer last week.

FRANCE: Renault espionage case "score settling" says lawyer

25 February 2011

A lawyer representing one of Renault's sacked executives allegedly involved in its espionage case, is maintaining the affair is linked to score settling within the automaker, following the leak of a letter alledging bribe taking.

Ghosn would be "astonished" if Renault's espionage case had illegal element

11 February 2011

Renault insists it has collaborated fully with the French justice system following its sacking of three top executives in its alleged industrial espionage affair.

COMMENT: All three Renault execs break cover

28 January 2011

So all three top-level executives in the Renault espionage saga have now played their cards in public.

FRANCE: Renault refutes claims it would let fired exec "keep money and go."

28 January 2011

Renault is strenuously denying it told one of its sacked senior executives he could "keep the money and go" as the industrial espionage affair continues to grip France.

FRANCE: Renault lawyer claims secret service leaking information

27 January 2011

A lawyer acting for Renault in the alleged industrial espionage affair is claiming French secret services are leaking information to the media.

FRANCE: Pelata calls for calm in Renault espionage affair

26 January 2011

Renault chief operating officer Patrick Pelata has waded into the automaker's supposed industrial espionage affair, saying continued speculation is not calming the situation.

FRANCE: Renault exec claims Swiss bank account odyssey

25 January 2011

A further extraordinary twist in the Renault industrial espionage saga has seen one of the sacked executives claim he was spirited to Switzerland to examine supposed bank accounts.

FRANCE: Renault executive lawyer says Ghosn makes "no industrial case" for sacking

24 January 2011

Lawyers acting for one of the three sacked Renault employees insist CEO Carlos Ghosn has not made an industrial case for his dismissal as the chief has couched his language in strategic rather than technological terms.

FRANCE: Minister urges tougher industrial espionage defence as Renault affair rumbles on

17 January 2011

French industry minister Eric Besson says the country must beef up its defences against industrial espionage as the Renault affair continues to rock France.

FRANCE: Renault initiates judicial investigation into spying case

13 January 2011

Renault has initiated a judicial investigation into industrial espionage alleging corruption, theft and concealment. The move to file the complaint follows the suspension of three employees last week who it claims have 'deliberately endangered the company's assets'.

COMMENT: Renault quiet as secret storm brews

7 January 2011

As if the Renault "industrial espionage" story wasn't extraordinary enough - and the flames have been fanned further by France's Industry Minister chucking in "economic war" to the mix, it seems the country's secret services may now be getting involved.

FRANCE: Renault battens hatches as Minister evokes "economic war"

7 January 2011

French government ministers are warning of the consequences of "industrial espionage" as the fallout from the suspension of three senior Renault executives continues to gather pace.