Renault COO's departure explained

The head of Renault has confirmed that comments made to a journalist led directly to the departure of the chief operating officer of Europe’s second-biggest car-maker last week.

In a wide-ranging interview at the Frankfurt motor show yesterday, Renault-Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn repeatedly stated that Carlos Tavares would still be his company’s COO had he not told a Bloomberg reporter that he harboured desires to run General Motors.

“Those statements triggered a huge reaction inside and outside the company, so I consulted with he and our partners and after many meetings he and I agreed it was best that he leave,” Mr Ghosn said.

“He and I met many times and we came to the conclusion that it was the best thing for the company if he leaves, and that’s it.

“Without the statements he made on August 14, I can say he would be here today and still be in the same job.”

The interview with Bloomberg saw the 55-year-old Tavares acknowledge he was probably too old to follow Mr Ghosn (just four years his senior) into the top job at Renault. He went on to admit that understanding that limitation had given him hopes of running a global, US-based brand like General Motors or Ford.

“My experience would be good for any car company,” Tavares told Bloomberg. “Why not GM?” he asked. “I would be honoured to lead a company like GM.”

Until yesterday’s interview, though, Renault’s only official comment was that he had left “to pursue other projects”, while Ghosn has temporarily added the role of COO to his own already full plate.

A lifelong car enthusiast who pushed heavily for the rebirth of the Alpine brand and Renault’s involvement with Caterham, as well as collaborating with Daimler on the upcoming Twingo and being a driver of electric vehicles like the Twizy, Tavares had been in the position for just two years.

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