In The Driver's Seat

CATHERINE CABROL / CORBIS

STEERING: Ghosn turned Nissan around and now plans to strengthen Renaul

Smiling broadly and looking dapper in a powder blue shirt, pin-striped suit and bright red tie, Renault ceo Carlos Ghosn doesn't look like your typical corporate hatchet man. Back in 1999, however, Ghosn was dubbed the "samurai" and "cost killer" at Nissan Motor in Japan. As the newly appointed president, he began closing plants, slashing over $20 billion in debt, and eliminating over 20,000 jobs to turn the moribund company profitable. Many observers — especially unions — expected similar tough love in early February, when Ghosn unveiled his ambitious four-year business plan for Renault, which has had an increasingly close...

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