Ghosn Says Next Leader Of Nissan Needs To Be Japanese

For 14 years, Nissan Motor Co. CEO Carlos Ghosn has been the Japanese carmaker's foreign face. Now, after sidelining his Japanese No. 2 and reshuffling the company's top management, he says he wants a Japanese national to succeed him at the helm when the time comes.

Ghosn said Nissan's diverse management is a strength unrivaled by any other carmaker. But he added it is important to reinstate a Japanese leader at the top when he eventually steps down.

"I would like when the time for a successor would come for a Japanese to head Nissan," Ghosn told Automotive News in an interview today. "It's symbolic, and we have plenty of Japanese talent. I want Nissan to be continued to be seen as a Japanese company."

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Vorana - 11/22/2013 11:40:29 AM

-1 Boost

Imagine the outcry if a CEO sais.."I want thr next CEO to be white" Or..
"A white male must run Nissan. I want Nissan to be viewed as White.."

Or, in stead of the "Asian Games"....lets have the "Whites only" Games

Get the picture..?

caznable55 - 11/22/2013 2:28:40 PM

+5 Boost

Sorry Vorana, but respectfully, your analogy is flawed. Mr. Ghosn didn't say anything at all about race.... he was talking about nationality which isn't necessarily the same thing at all. For instance you can be Asian and also American at the exact same time. A better analogy was if Sergio Marchionne the Italian CEO of Fiat which currently owns Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep said that he would prefer the next CEO of Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep to be an American so that these brands would continue to be viewed as an American, not an Italian company....to me that is not an offensive statement at all

aa2zz - 11/22/2013 2:37:28 PM

+4 Boost

instead of seeing it as a subject of race, why not view it as a subject of nationality? he never said Asian and a white guy can be Japanese much like an Asian can be American. Unless you dont see Asians as Americans then I think youre the one with the problem.

MorePower - 11/23/2013 12:01:38 AM

+3 Boost

He said nothing of race. ALL humans, no matter what the shade of pigment his/her/both? skin, of the same race!

Secondly, all he said is that the next CEO needs to be of the same nationality of the company. Nissan being a Japanese company, logic would dictate the next CEO needs to be, in some part, Japanese.

aa2zz - 11/22/2013 2:38:14 PM

+2 Boost

caznable you beat me to it :)

MorePower - 11/23/2013 12:05:51 AM

+1 Boost

No problem with me. Just make sure the next CEO:

- keeps the GT-R coming to America
- puts the next generation Z on a diet and give it more athleticism
- makes sure a new 240Z/Silvia makes it into production
- give the Maxima more power, a manual transmission and AWD
- create an electric vehicle that can be 90% Model S at 50% cost to customers

MattDarringer - 11/23/2013 10:23:26 AM

+1 Boost

Ghosn was far from brilliant. The tie up with Renault has produced NOTHING of value. Infiniti is an also-ran in the premium wars. Styling at Nissan is bland and boring or garish (370Z / GTR). I cannot help but think Nissan would be better off kicking Renault to the curb.