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Nissan chief executive Hiroto Saikawa admits he has been paid too much and confesses to having made a mistake by accepting undue remuneration. He promises to restore the overpayment. This affair weakens a little more Hiroto Saikawa, the successor of Carlos Ghosn head of Nissan, at the moment when its main shareholder Renault is putting more and more pressure on the boss of the Japanese manufacturer.
With our correspondent in Tokyo, Frédéric Charles
Hiroto Saikawa admits to rescheduling a bonus linked to his shares in the spring of 2013 to obtain an additional gain of more than 400,000 euros in order to facilitate the purchase of an apartment.
This accusation was made last June in an interview with the monthly Bungei Shunju by Greg Kelly, the former right hand man of Carlos Ghosn . Indicted as well, the American lawyer is considered by Japanese prosecutors as "the brains" of the financial malpractices committed by the former boss of the Renault-Nissan alliance. Both men deny all charges against them.
According to Greg Kelly, this is the first time in Nissan's history that a leader has violated the company's rules to make a real estate purchase. The US lawyer also claims that Hiroto Saikawa was aware of the underreporting of Carlos Ghosn's earnings to the Japanese stock market authorities.
His open succession
The fault committed by the current boss of Nissan is not illegal. It may receive in cash a bonus corresponding to the capital gain related to the increase in the value of the company's share during a defined period.
The position of Hiroto Saikawa at the head of the Japanese manufacturer is no less fragile. He is accused of being too close to Carlos Ghosn. Renault does not support it because it opposes any merger with the French manufacturer. Nissan's financial results have never been so bad. The preparation of Hiroto Saikawa's estate is expected to accelerate.