A lot of people who might not be aware of the history of Nissan, there is a name which has had a rollercoaster-like ride with the company. That name is none other than Carlos Ghosn, who once used to be the CEO of Nissan but is now a fugitive businessman. Recently, Ghosn has once again made it to the headlines after he claimed that he is the only person capable of saving the struggling Japanese automaker.
The former CEO of Nissan, Carlos Ghosn, as mentioned above, recently made a bold statement. He stated that currently he is the only one who can help Nissan in coming out of the situation where it is stuck at the moment. He gave this statement after a Nissan shareholder suggested bringing him back during the company’s annual shareholders’ meeting.
Speaking from Lebanon, where he has been living since fleeing Japan in 2019, Ghosn said the growing frustration among shareholders is completely understandable. According to Ghosn, Nissan has failed to recover ever since he was removed from the company in 2018. He pointed out that the company has gone through multiple CEOs over the years.
However, none of them have been able to reverse its situation, where it has been losing money. He stated that shareholders are simply tired of seeing one turnaround plan after another without any meaningful results.
Now, during a recent interview, Ghosn was asked if he would be willing to return as an advisor if given the opportunity, following which he immediately dismissed that idea completely. According to him, Nissan does not need advice at this stage. Instead, it needs someone with complete executive authority who can make difficult decisions and execute them without hesitation.
He also claimed that if there is one person capable of turning Nissan around, it is him. Ghosn said this is not because of personal pride but because he has already done it once before. He added that he understands every aspect of the company and knows exactly what needs to be done.
Ghosn also shared worrying news about Nissan’s current condition. According to him, the company’s share price has fallen sharply since his departure. Also, its global sales have dropped immensely, and Nissan has continued to lose its competitive edge. He believes management has become defensive, slow to make decisions, and focused more on retreating from markets instead of taking bold steps to compete.
He also warned that if Nissan fails to recover, it could eventually become a much smaller company or even end up under the control of a larger automaker. Ghosn also specifically suggested that Chinese manufacturers could potentially buy Nissan in the future if its financial condition does not improve.
Now, despite his confidence, Carlos Ghosn cannot realistically return to Nissan because he is still one of the world’s most well-known corporate fugitives. For those who may not be aware of Ghosn’s background, he joined Nissan back in 1999 after Renault rescued the financially troubled Japanese automaker. He quickly became famous for leading one of the biggest turnaround stories in the automotive industry by cutting costs, improving efficiency, and restoring profitability.
His success eventually made him the head of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance and one of the most influential executives in the global car industry. However, everything changed in November 2018 when Japanese authorities arrested him on allegations of financial misconduct. Prosecutors accused him of underreporting his compensation and misusing company funds.
At the time, Ghosn repeatedly denied all the allegations and claims he became the victim of a conspiracy involving Nissan executives who opposed closer integration with Renault. Following his arrest, Ghosn spent months in detention before being released on strict bail conditions. He was placed under house arrest, faced severe restrictions on his movement, and was even barred from contacting his wife for long periods. According to Ghosn, he believed he would never receive a fair trial in Japan.
This then resulted in one of the most dramatic escapes in modern corporate history. In December 2019, Ghosn secretly travelled from Tokyo to Osaka before hiding inside a large equipment case that was normally used to transport musical instruments. The case was then loaded onto a private jet, which flew to Turkey before he finally reached Lebanon.
Since Lebanon does not have an extradition treaty with Japan, he has continued living there ever since. Today, nearly eight years after his arrest, Ghosn still closely follows Nissan’s performance and believes the company has lost its direction without him. While the chances of him ever returning to lead Nissan are almost impossible.
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