Nissan CEO to Meet Renault Board on Ghosn Scandal

Nissan Motor Co.’s CEO Hiroto Saikawa is scheduled to meet tonight with French government officials and the board of alliance partner Renault SA to discuss the Carlos Ghosn crisis.

Saikawa is likely to be asked how Nissan failed to detect years of alleged financial wrongdoing by Ghosn, who was chairman of both companies at the time, The Nikkei says. Renault has reported no evidence of Ghosn misdeeds involving the French carmaker.

Ghosn was removed as Nissan’s chairman a few days after his arrest in Tokyo on Nov. 19. He remains chairman and CEO of Renault, although those duties have been reassigned to other executives on an interim basis.

The French state, which owns 15% of Renault, is pushing the carmaker’s board to choose a permanent successor. The Nikkei says a decision could come as soon as this weekend.