Carlos Ghosn: The Great Transnational CEO

Perhaps there are other CEOs who experienced a life living in different countries. None has come out as super achieving as Carlos Ghosn. Carlos was born on May 9, 1954 in Porto Velho, Brazil.  His grandfather emigrated from Lebanon to Brazil at the age of 13.

In 1960 Carlos along with his mother and three siblings moved to Beirut, Lebanon. He was six years old at the time. Carlos finished his secondary studies at a Jesuit school in Lebanon. He earned an engineering degree in France at the École Polytechnique in 1978 with the final year’s specialization at the École de Mines de Paris.

Carlos joined tire giant Michelin in 1978 as manager of the Le Puy plant in France.  He eventually became Chief Operating Officer of Michelin’s South American activities in Brazil. Carlos job was to turn around a losing operation which was being battered by the hyperinflation in Brazil.

What he did next would help define his management style. Carlos formed cross-functional management teams to determine best practices among the French, Brazilian and other nationalities working in the South American division. The experience in multicultural Brazil formed the bases of his cross-cultural management style and emphasis on diversity as a core business asset. The division returned to profitability in two years.

With his successful stint in South America he was appointed Chairman and CEO of Michelin North America in 1989. Looking for better opportunities he joined Renault as Executive Vice President in 1996. Aside from handling activities in South America Carlos was also responsible for research, automobile engineering and development, manufacturing, powertrain operations, and purchasing.

Renault bought a significant stake in Nissan in 1999. Carlos joined Nissan as CEO in June 1999 while still maintaining his responsibilities at Renault. Nissan was in trouble at that time with debt of $20 billion and only 3 of 48 models making profits.

He executed a painful downsizing removing 21,000 Nissan jobs (around 14 percent of the total workforce).  Carlos also sold prized assets. In one year’s time he was able to return the company to profitability and continues to do so.  He became CEO of Nissan in June 2001

Aside from his top post at Nissan Carlos is also now the Chairman and CEO or Renault. Carlos Ghosn, a one of a kind transnational super achiever.