Renault's Delbos vies for CEO post as hunt narrows

Delbos, who joined Renault in 2012, had put herself forward for the CEO job but was not certain to feature on the shortlist of frontrunners, despite b
...
Reuters file photo of Clotilde Delbos.
Reuters file photo of Clotilde Delbos.


Renault's interim chief executive Clotilde Delbos has applied to take the job on a permanent basis, two sources familiar with the matter said, as the French carmaker edges towards a shortlist likely to also feature several external candidates.

Also check these Vehicles

Find more Cars
Renault Duster 2025 (HT Auto photo)
UPCOMING
Engine Icon1499 cc FuelType IconPetrol
₹ 10 Lakhs
Alert Me When Launched
Renault Kwid (HT Auto photo)
Engine Icon999 cc FuelType IconPetrol
₹ 4.70 - 6.45 Lakhs
Compare
View Offers
Renault Kardian (HT Auto photo)
UPCOMING
Engine Icon1199 cc FuelType IconPetrol
₹ 11 Lakhs
Alert Me When Launched
Renault Kiger (HT Auto photo)
Engine Icon999 cc FuelType IconPetrol
₹ 6 - 11.23 Lakhs
Compare
View Offers
Renault Triber (HT Auto photo)
Engine Icon999 cc FuelType IconPetrol
₹ 6 - 8.97 Lakhs
Compare
View Offers
Renault Kwid Ev (HT Auto photo)
UPCOMING
₹ 5 Lakhs
Alert Me When Launched

Financial chief Delbos was propelled to the job on a temporary basis after CEO Thierry Bollore's ousting in mid-October, as Renault and its Japanese partner Nissan clear the decks of managers closely associated with the Carlos Ghosn era.

Ghosn, who chaired the alliance between the two companies, was arrested in Japan a year ago on financial misconduct charges he denies, and Renault and Nissan have been striving to repair their strained ties since.

Delbos, who joined Renault in 2012, had put herself forward for the CEO job but was not certain to feature on the shortlist of frontrunners, despite being one of the few likely internal candidates, one of the sources said.

That selection, which would comprise around three names, is expected to be turned over to the group's nominations committee in the coming days, the source added.

Delbos declined to comment when asked by Reuters earlier this week whether she had applied. Renault also declined to comment on Friday.

The French carmaker, chaired by Jean-Dominique Senard, a former executive at tyre maker Michelin parachuted in following the Ghosn scandal, is expected to choose a new CEO by year-end so that the group can try and fully refocus on its operations.

Like many peers, both Nissan and Renault are struggling with falling sales in a faltering global auto market.

Several heavyweight external candidates have been cited as good fits for Renault, and the French government, which has a 15% stake in the carmaker, has already made clear it was not opposed to a non-French national getting the job.

Didier Leroy, a senior Toyota executive who was already seen as a potential replacement for Ghosn when the latter was close to departing last year, has once again been cited in the recruitment process, two other sources close to the situation said.

"I do not pay attention to these rumours and remain 100%focused on my job at Toyota, where I enjoy a very trustful relationship with Akio Toyoda," Leroy said, referring to Toyota's president in a statement sent to Reuters through the Japanese carmaker.

One of the sources said that Patrick Koller, the Franco-German CEO of car parts maker Faurecia, and Luca de Meo, the Italian boss of Volkswagen-owned SEAT, also ticked many of the boxes for recruiters, namely as both spoke French.

Faurecia declined to comment.

"Luca de Meo is fully committed to SEAT, as he himself has stated on several occasions since he was appointed company President in 2015," SEAT said in a statement.

First Published Date: 17 Nov 2019, 09:47 AM IST
NEXT ARTICLE BEGINS

Check Latest Offers

Please provide your details to get Personalized Offers

Choose city
+91 | Choose city
Choose city
Select a dealer

Want to get the best price for your existing car?

Powered by: Spinny Logo
By clicking "View Offers" you Agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy
Dear Name

Please verify your mobile number.

+91 | Choose city
Couldn't verify the OTP.
It's either expired or it's incorrect.