According to Nikkei and Kyodo, Renault CEO Luca de Meo will step down from his role on July 15, 2025, after a five-year tenure marked by financial recovery and alliance restructuring with Nissan Motor. The company confirmed his departure on June 15, 2025, and has already initiated the search for his successor.
Leadership transition signals new era
De Meo, who joined Renault in 2020 from Italy's business sector, is widely credited with stabilizing the automaker's operations following years of financial strain, particularly in the wake of Carlos Ghosn's leadership. Under Ghosn, Renault aggressively expanded capital expenditures, a strategy that saddled the company with long-term costs. De Meo's leadership helped reverse this course through a mid-term management plan that adjusted production capacity, navigated the pandemic, and restored profitability.
In his resignation statement, de Meo said he plans to leave the automotive industry to pursue new challenges. He is set to become CEO of French luxury group Kering S.A., which is currently undergoing a strategic transformation.
Alliance restructuring takes center stage
One of De Meo's most significant moves was reshaping the Renault-Nissan alliance. In March 2025, Renault and Nissan reduced their mutual shareholdings from 15% to 10%, aiming for greater flexibility. De Meo had also reduced Renault's broader stake in Nissan, signaling a shift from tight interdependence toward more balanced cooperation.
He further pivoted Renault toward Europe's growing electric vehicle market by launching the dedicated EV unit Ampere and establishing joint engine production with China's Geely.
Future partnership dynamics remain uncertain
With De Meo's departure, analysts are questioning whether Renault's approach to Nissan may change. Adding to the uncertainty, Renault chairman Jean-Dominique Senard and lead independent director Pierre Fleuriot are also set to leave Nissan's board following its annual shareholders meeting in June 2025.
Despite these leadership changes, Nissan CEO Ivan Espinosa stressed that the alliance with Renault and Mitsubishi Motors remains strong. He noted that the companies continue to collaborate on numerous joint projects to boost operational efficiency. Still, the post-De Meo era could mark a new chapter in the evolving Renault-Nissan relationship.
Article edited by Jerry Chen
