The recruitment of an outsider for the crucial role within the scandal-hit Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance marks the latest leadership reshuffle in what appears to be a clearing of allies to former chairman and CEO Carlos Ghosn following his arrest in Japan in late 2018 for alleged financial misconduct.
Mr de Meo and Ms Delbos will commence their roles at the publicly listed Renault SA on July 1 this year, with Mr de Meo also becoming chairman of privately owned division Renault SAS on the same date.
Alliance partner Nissan named Makoto Uchida as CEO in early October last year following the board’s unanimous vote to remove Ghosn protege Hiroto Saikawa from the position over financial irregularities relating to his pay.
The appointment of Mr Uchida – a relative newcomer to the alliance, having joined Nissan in 2003 – came just months into his role as president of Nissan’s Chinese Dongfeng Motor Company joint venture.
Mitsubishi Motors chief operating officer Ashwani Gupta was simultaneously moved into the equivalent position at Nissan, with Mr Gupta’s successor at Mitsubishi yet to be named.
Mr Uchida’s links to Renault through a previous role as vice-president of purchasing for the alliance and Mr Gupta’s long history with all three members of the alliance – he had served as general manager of purchasing for Renault India, for example – point to an attempt to ease tensions within the alliance that surfaced around the time of Mr Ghosn’s arrest.
As exclusively reported by GoAuto last week, Mr Gupta has expressed strong belief in the alliance, describing such partnerships as “redefining the future of the industry”.
Bringing in an outsider such as Mr de Meo to lead Renault, which owns 43 per cent of Nissan, suggests a fresh start is desired by the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi conglomerate.
To this end, Groupe Renault chair Jean-Dominique Senard described the company’s refreshed leadership as “a high-quality, multi-talented team equal to Renault’s ambitions”.
From November 2015 until this month, Mr de Meo chaired the executive committee of Spanish car brand Seat while also sitting on the supervisory board of Ducati and Lamborghini and serving as chair of the board at Volkswagen Group in Italy.
Prior to this he had been board member for sales and marketing at Audi since 2012, having joined VW in 2009 as marketing director for Volkswagen brand passenger cars and the broader VW Group.
Mr de Meo started his automotive career at Renault after completing his business administration degree at Luigi Bocconi Commercial University in his hometown of Milan, followed by stints at Toyota Europe and what was then Fiat Group, where he managed the Alfa Romeo, Fiat and Lancia brands.
In a statement, Groupe Renault said Mr de Meo’s career success and experience “combines all the qualities to contribute to all aspects of Groupe Renault’s development and transformation”.
Mr Senard said he was “delighted with this new governance, which marks a decisive step for the group and for the alliance”.
“Luca de Meo is a great strategist and visionary of a rapidly changing automotive world. His expertise but also his passion for cars make him a real asset for the group,” he said.
Ms Delbos joined Renault in 2012 as group controller and became CFO in 2016 after almost two years as global director of control within the alliance. She also chairs the board of directors at Renault’s finance and insurance division RCI Banque and sits on the Groupe Renault executive committee.
The Renault announcement states that her roles with RCI Banque and as CFO will continue.
Mr Senard said Ms Delbos “has demonstrated day after day her commitment and determination in the service of Renault” and that she was delivering “interim management of the group in an exceptional manner”.
As reported, Mr Ghosn managed to skip his $A14 million bail bond and escape to Lebanon last December. He held a press conference earlier this month to state his intention of clearing his name outside the Japanese legal system, which he said would give him “zero chance of getting a fair trial”.
Former Nissan representative director Greg Kelly remains in Japan on bail pending trial. A conviction in Japan for the alleged crimes carries a prison sentence of up to 10 years.
As a result of the scandal in Japan, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has fined Nissan, Mr Ghosn and Mr Kelly a combined $US16.1 million ($A23.8m).
In addition, Interpol has released a ‘red notice’ against Mr Ghosn, but Lebanon continues to provide Brazilian-born Frenchman of Lebanese ancestry with a safe haven from extradition.
By Haitham Razagui
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