French carmaker Renault SA approved at a shareholders' annual general meeting Friday a proposal to have Japan's Nissan Motor Co. President Carlos Ghosn join its board.
Renault Chairman Louis Schweitzer also proposed at the meeting the appointment of Ghosn as president -- the equivalent of chief executive officer -- of the French automaker when Schweitzer's tenure expires in 2005. Schweitzer said he will retain his chairmanship.
But the move won't necessarily mean Ghosn will leave Nissan. In remarks in Detroit earlier in the week, Ghosn said it would be possible to have a single chief executive preside over both companies.
Last September, Schweitzer said he plans to name Ghosn as his successor when his tenure expired.
The former state-run automaker does not currently have a management structure with such top posts as president or CEO.
Schweitzer indicated, however, that he will separate the two top management roles he currently serves in as part of efforts to reform Renault's corporate structure.
Speaking after the meeting, Schweitzer said he will focus on board affairs and Ghosn will take care of the Renault group's top management.
The importance of the CEO post is undervalued in France, he said.
The French carmaker has a 44.4 percent stake in Nissan Motor.