It's been more than eight years since former Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn was removed from that role atop the Japanese carmaker, the beginning of a saga that later involved allegations of financial improprieties, an arrest, and an alleged escape in an audio equipment case followed by flight to his home country of Lebanon. All of that, plus a few high-profile 2020 interviews to comment on his treatment in the Japanese justice system, make him just about the least likely executive to ever take the reins at Nissan or any other major corporation.
Despite all of that, however, some Nissan investors apparently tried to force a move to bring him back during the company's annual shareholder meeting on Tuesday.
According to Automotive News, the vote to bring back Ghosn was one of a series of floor proposals throughout the meeting meant to unseat current CEO Ivan Espinosa. The furor comes amid a long era of struggles for Nissan since Ghosn's chaotic departure, which has dealt most recently with a stock price in freefall.
One pro-Ghosn shareholder reportedly said that Nissan "needs a person like [Ghosn]" even after factoring in the criminal accusations. "He had bad aspects," the person said, according to AN, "but he had good aspects as well... I want such a leader."
Given that Ghosn was the subject of such heavy trouble in Japan—and is also facing an arrest warrant in France issued in 2022—it seems unlikely that he will return to lead Nissan, or any other automaker, any time soon. In the meantime, Espinosa faces a tough task as the one charged with turning around a company that includes shareholders who would rather see an international fugitive in charge.
Fred Smith's love of cars comes from his fascination with auto racing. Unfortunately, that passion led him to daily drive a high-mileage, first-year Porsche Panamera. He is still thinking about the last lap of the 2011 Indianapolis 500.
