Nissan Motor president Carlos Ghosn will become chief executive of both Nissan and Renault in 2005, replacing group CEO Louis Schweitzer, the Financial Times (FT) said.
In an interview with the newspaper, Ghosn confirmed his new dual role but ruled out a full merger between Nissan and Renault, which owns 44% of the Japanese company, saying the risks outweighed any potential benefits.
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The FT said Ghosn, who has revived the once-ailing Nissan, was chosen by Schweitzer as his successor this year although this is the first time he has confirmed he will run both companies simultaneously.
Ghosn told the FT that both companies would have their own chairmen, chief operating officers and management committees, but would also reap benefits usually associated with a full merger by becoming deeply integrated at an operational level.
The FT said that would involve increased sharing of production facilities, jointly procured parts, shared platforms – the new Micra/March and Clio is the first – shared engines and exchanging best practices to reduce costs and improve marketing and distribution.
