Ghosn Says Japanese Exec Should Succeed Him at Nissan

CEO Carlos Ghosn tells Automotive News that his successor at Nissan Motor Co. should be a Japanese national.

Ghosn, 59, is a Brazilian-born Frenchman of Lebanese descent who took control of an ailing Nissan in 1999. He also is CEO of Renault SA.

He has no plan to leave Nissan anytime soon. But Ghosn adds that it's important to "remind everybody that this is a Japanese company."

Ghosn notes that the percentage of Nissan executives at the senior vice president level or above has climbed from 19% in 2001 to 33% today. He says half the company's top 100 managers are foreigners but adds, "We have plenty of Japanese talent."