Louis Schweitzer has retired from the head of Renault’s operations after spending the last 13 years at the helm of the French car manufacturer.
Louis Schweitzer has retired from the head of Renault’s operations after spending the last 13 years at the helm of the French car manufacturer.
Schweitzer joined Renault’s senior management team in 1986, before being appointed chief financial officer and head of strategic planning in 1988. He was appointed executive vice president in 1989 and chief operating officer in 1990.
He has been the chairman and chief executive of Renault since May 1992 and the Swiss-born Schweitzer has seen the launch of 50 new models and Renault’s increased focus on safety and engineering since his appointment.
Eleven years ago, in 1994, the French Government started reducing its shareholding in the company and shares were sold to individuals. Since then, the manufacturer’s share price and market capitalisation have increased to make Renault the seventh-largest manufacturer in the world.
Schweitzer has been president of the Renault-Nissan Alliance Board since Renault assumed a 44,4 per stake in Nissan in 2001. Nissan, in turn, owns 15 per cent of the French manufacturer.
When Renault’s board of directors met in February this year, it was agreed that Carlos Ghosn would take over as chairman and chief executive. Ghosn, the current chairman and chief executive of Nissan, takes on the additional role, while Schweitzer becomes chairman of the board of directors.