Nissan has promoted the head of its China operations to chief executive and sidelined the whistleblower behind Carlos Ghosn’s downfall in an effort to end a boardroom rift that has threatened the carmaker’s survival.
The unanimous board decision to appoint 53-year-old Makoto Uchida to head the “new Nissan” follows a three-month search for a successor to Hiroto Saikawa, Mr Ghosn’s handpicked appointee who himself was ousted in mid-September.
Mr Uchida will be supported by Ashwani Gupta, an India-born former Renault executive who will become chief operating officer. The management team will also include Jun Seki, currently in charge of Nissan’s turnround, as vice-COO.