Nissan is investigating insider claims that current chief executive Makoto Uchida carried out surveillance of deputy and Nissan chief operating officer Ashwani Gupta.
A letter sent by senior Nissan advisor Hari Nada to the independent directors on the car manufacturer’s board asserts that Uchida carried out surveillance as part of an effort to remove Gupta, someone that he viewed as an obstacle to reaching a new deal with Renault. Gupta has served as Nissan’s chief operating officer since 2019 and is thought to have questioned the terms of the agreement Uchida wants to finalize with Renault.
While Nissan isn’t saying much about the claims, it did confirm to Reuters that “independent third parties have been retained to verify facts and carry out appropriate actions.”
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Gupta was thought to be a candidate as a future chief executive of Nissan but it was confirmed on May 12 that he would not be reappointed to the board when his current term expired. It was then announced earlier this month that Gupta would resign on June 27, the same day as the company’s annual shareholder meeting.
Reuters notes that Japanese law allows a company to monitor communications on corporate devices to protect its business interests.
Nada’s letter didn’t just speak about Uchida’s alleged surveillance of Gupta. He claims that Uchida overstepped his authority and made concessions and commitments with Renault chief executive Luca de Meo in alleged ‘backroom deals’ during recent negotiations that will see Renault reduce its stake in Nissan. An unnamed source added that de Meo, as well as Renault chairman Jean-Dominique Senard, viewed Gupta as slowing down the completion of the deal.
Nada also hit out at Uchida for spearheading a decision for Nissan to buy a stake in Renault’s electric vehicle unit Ampere, alleging there is no strategic rationale for the investment.
