Renault announces Carlos Ghosn's replacements

**French car giant Renault has announced a new chairman and chief executive to replace Carlos Ghosn.**

Michelin's Jean-Dominique Senard has been appointed chairman, while Thierry Bolloré will become chief executive.

Mr Ghosn, who has been in jail in Japan since November 19 accused of financial misconduct at Nissan, had remained at the helm of Renault.

He held top jobs at both carmakers because of an alliance between them and smaller partner Mitsubishi.

Nissan is expected to hold a press conference later on Thursday.

**Role split**

Renault's board of directors voted to separate the two functions, previously handled solely by Mr Ghosn.

The chairman will be responsible for managing Renault's alliance with Japanese carmaker Nissan, while the chief executive will co-ordinate the carmaker's activities.

Mr Ghosn, who was the architect of the Renault-Nissan alliance, faces three charges in Japan of financial misconduct including understating his income and aggravated breach of trust.

Mitsubishi joined the alliance three years ago. While Nissan and Mitsubishi sacked him as chairman after his arrest, Renault had not done so.

The 64-year-old, who denies any wrongdoing, could remain in custody for months after his application for bail earlier this week was denied.

New chief executive Mr Bolloré had been running the carmaker in the immediate aftermath of Mr Ghosn's arrest.

Renault has said previously that it has not found any evidence of wrongdoing yet, and an investigation into executive pay has shown no signs of fraud so far.

Born in Porto Velho, Brazil, to Lebanese parents, Mr Ghosn had achieved star status in Japan during his time at Nissan. According to one poll he was the man most Japanese women wanted to marry and in another he came seventh in a poll of who should run the country.

Nissan said it had now begun preparations to hold an extraordinary general meeting in April to discuss new board members.

The agenda will be to cover the departure of Carlos Ghosn and Greg Kelly, an aide to Mr Ghosn who was arrested in November and bailed on Christmas Day. The shareholder meeting will also cover the appointment of a new director to be nominated by Renault.