The struggle for the leadership of embattled Nissan Motor Co. ended in an uneasy compromise, as the top contenders all got senior roles.
The carmaker's directors tapped Makoto Uchida, 53, the head of its China joint venture, as chief executive officer, to work alongside new Chief Operating Officer Ashwani Gupta and Jun Seki, the new deputy COO. These three were all on the shortlist a week ago.
One factor in the decision was suggested by Chairman Yasushi Kimura at a news conference at Nissan's headquarters in Yokohama late Tuesday: By adopting a collective-style leadership, the board ensures that no one can dominate decision-making, a clear reference to ousted leader Carlos Ghosn's outsized influence over Nissan and its alliance with top shareholder Renault SA.