Nissan May Drop Chairman Role

Nissan Motor Co. is pondering a restructured management that would eliminate the chairman position.

Keiko Ihara, one of the carmaker’s independent directors, tells Bloomberg News there is “debate whether we really need a chairman.” She is part of a special board committee set up to examine Nissan’s governance following the arrest on Nov. 19 of former Chairman Carlos Ghosn on charges of financial wrongdoing.

Ghosn faces charges of transferring a personal loss on currency trade to the company and hiding about $43 million worth of deferred compensation and tens of millions more in other perquisites.

Ihara tells Bloomberg the board’s special committee expects to produce a report by the end of March that recommends steps to improve the carmaker’s corporate governance.