This article is just forgetting key facts that have been revealed little by little by Japanese and global media agencies: abuse of Nissan, Nissan subsidiaries, Renault-Nissan BV, Nissan-Mitsubishi BV in many different ways. It is building a case of a plot against Mr Ghosn on assumptions of a few people that have left Nissan for a while. And it simply forgets the report just published by independent experts about the diagnosis of Nissan governance under Mr Ghosn!!!
But when you discover that the big boss has used company money by dozens of millions $ it looks normal that you bring that to the prosecutor and ask for justice to act.
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“He made sure every part of the organization depended on him to function,” It got to a point where only a clone (of Mr. Ghosn) would be able to succeed him.”
"Behind the scenes, he fostered rivalries among executives and sidelined those who opposed him."
Sound vaguely familiar to someone with much more power? My biggest fear is who is the clone in waiting? Jared?
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This is actually a case of abuse of political power. Facts exist that Mr. Saikawa and other Nissan executives colluded with the Japanese government to stop the merger by charging Ghosn with criminal charges.
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As long as “slashing jobs and closing factories” makes one an admired leader we can expect more stories like this one.
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The Nissan-Renault merger was only a success from the perspective of corporate greed (as usual these days). The quality and engineering of the vehicles manufactured has gone downhill dramatically.
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@Spook Yup owned a Nissan from end of 90s and then one from early 2000s. What a difference. Later ones look fancier, but much less reliable. No more Nissans for me.
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@Spook I disagree with your assertion that Nissan's engineering has gone downhill. The current Altima is a very capable and comfortable car that uses far less fuel than its smaller, less sophisticated predecessors. Nissan continues to sell lots of sedans while Ford and GM have given up trying. The Rogue compact SUV sells very well and has a higher level of driver assist features than anything else short of a Tesla. The fit and finish of 1990s Nissans was distinctly inferior to contemporary Toyotas, now they are much closer.
As to the article, it now seems most likely to me that Carlos Ghosn did receive this and that, off the books. I just wonder if such practices aren't routine for the CEOs of other Japanese corporations.
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A leader’s unchecked power and inflated ego can have disastrous consequences for a publicly traded corporation undergoing change and navigating a complex environment (Japan/ France, Renault/ Nissan/ Mitsubishi).
The organization’s stock price is now where it was 9 years ago in 2010. Lots of shareholder value wiped, and unclear prospects for the future.
With many potential paths ahead (merge with Fiat/Chrysler? Invest more in electric? Decisions on markets to grow? Other?), new strong leadership is needed that brings the organization together and propels it forward).
For now, I will wait and see.
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I hope Nissan will come out of this stronger and more productive so that they can continue to produce affordable electric cars. I bought a used Nissan Leaf two years ago and it's the best car I've ever had. They're made in Tennessee, by the way.
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Forget that this story is about an automobile company. This is a story of history books and ambitious men. The story is as old as the hills and will be repeated ad naseum far into the future.
There is something to be said for the “chemistry” inherent in the many relationships that do produce good results. However, as we well know chemical explosions occur from time to time under unexpected circumstances. This particular story is one of those instances and no individual or group could mitigate the circumstances before the explosion.
Any reader who has spent their working life in the corporate world or any large organization, for that matter, understands the competitive nature underlying the yearning for the power of leadership.
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