Embattled Nissan CEO Aims to Fast-track His Exit

Steph Willems
by Steph Willems

Ask Japanese media about Hiroto Saikawa’s status at Nissan and they’ll tell you he already has one and a half feet out the door. Following a report Sunday in Japan’s Nikkei, in which Saikawa allegedly told company executives of his plan to resign, the boss man himself admitted it’s true.

Speaking to the media, Saikawa, who was forced into contrition last week over revelations of excess compensation from an equity-linked remuneration scheme, said he wants to head out ASAP. His replacement will already be aware of the great challenges ahead.

“I want to pass the baton to the next generation as soon as possible,” Saikawa told Tokyo reporters early Monday. While the CEO wouldn’t say when exactly they could expect an official replacement, he did say that the automaker’s board would make “thorough preparations” for the changeover.

Last week Saikawa apologized and vowed to repay any excess funds gained through bonuses tied to stock performance, bonuses some allege Saikawa tweaked to boost his take. While the exec again denied this Monday – “I never ordered the company to break the rules” — it seems Saikawa has accumulated too much baggage to stay on in the top job.

A source told Reuters that Nissan’s nominating company will meet Monday to discuss a possible replacement. Saikawa, the source said, is hardly “clinging to his chair.”

The company already finds itself in a state of turmoil following the November arrest of its former chairman, Carlos Ghosn, on charges of underreporting income and funneling company cash to businesses he controlled. Earlier this year, Saikawa found himself in the hot seat after it was revealed he approved a controversial lump sum payment that was to be part of Ghosn’s proposed retirement package. If that’s not enough dark clouds for a potential successor, Nissan finds itself a junior partner in a broader alliance whose French leadership still holds out hopes of merging with Fiat Chrysler.

Nissan’s sales are also down, with its Infiniti premium brand contracting sharply and recently dropping out of the European market. Nissan’s revenue and profits have taken a nosedive in a year Saikawa himself described as “rock bottom.” Meanwhile, auto sales have cooled off throughout the western world and economists and forecasters are bracing for a recession.

Whoever replaces Saikawa has their work cut out for them.

[Image: Nissan]

Steph Willems
Steph Willems

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  • Johnnyz Johnnyz on Sep 09, 2019

    If Saikawa received compensation from a "renumeration scheme" why the hell isn't he in Jap jail like Ghosen? Maybe there is favoritism for a Japanese citizen? Double standards everywhere.

    • Sgeffe Sgeffe on Sep 09, 2019

      I thought for the whole “honor” thing in Japanese culture, this guy’ll be duty-bound to impale himself on a sword, anyway.

  • Inside Looking Out Inside Looking Out on Sep 09, 2019

    "Nissan’s sales are also down, with its Infiniti premium brand contracting sharply and recently dropping out of the European market." It is comical that they even dared to offer Infiniti on European market. No European in his right mind would consider such an ugly brand with no heritage. So dropping from European market means nothing. GM also dropped from European market. The problem would be if they drop Infiniti from US market. But first to go should be Mitsubishi.

  • Arthur Dailey Good. Whatever upsets the Chinese government is fine with me. And yes they are probably monitoring this thread/site.
  • Jalop1991 WTO--the BBB of the international trade world.
  • Dukeisduke If this is really a supplier issue (Dana-Spicer? American Axle?), Kia should step up and say they're going to repair the vehicles (the electronic parking brake change is a temporary fix) and lean on or sue the supplier to force them to reimburse Kia Motors for the cost of the recall.Neglecting the shaft repairs are just going to make for some expensive repairs for the owners down the road.
  • MaintenanceCosts But we were all told that Joe Biden does whatever China commands him to!
  • Rick T. If we really cared that much about climate change, shouldn't we letting in as many EV's as possible as cheaply as possible?
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