Renault chooses VW executive as new CEO

French carmaker Renault named a former Volkswagen executive as its chief executive Tuesday, a crucial step as it tries to revive its troubled alliance with Japanese carmaker Nissan.

The executive, Luca de Meo, 52, recently stepped down as the president of SEAT, a Spanish car brand that has become one of Volkswagen’s best-performing divisions since he took over in 2015.

De Meo will take office July 1, Renault said. Until then, Clotilde Delbos, Renault’s chief financial officer, will continue to serve as interim chief executive.

De Meo, who has spent most of his career in marketing, is likely to be less imperious and more diplomatic than Carlos Ghosn, who was CEO of Renault before his arrest in Japan in November 2018 on charges of financial impropriety. Ghosn, who has denied the allegations, fled Japan on Dec. 29 and appeared before reporters Jan. 8 in Lebanon.

De Meo takes over after a tumultuous year at Renault that included an attempt to merge with Fiat Chrysler. The deal apart at the last minute.

Fiat Chrysler has since agreed to merge with PSA, the maker of Peugeot and Citroen cars.

De Meo replaces Thierry Bollore, who succeeded Ghosn but was pushed out in October by Jean-Dominique Senard, the Renault chairman. Bollore had clashed with top executives at Nissan.

One of his main tasks will be to help repair fissures in Renault’s alliance with Nissan and Mitsubishi, which were exposed by Ghosn’s downfall. fell