仏政府・ルノーの「日産乗っ取り」は日本人幹部の勘違い？ゴーン側近の証言なぜ報道されぬ＝房広治

2021年5月31日ニュース

ゴーン氏が去ったあとの日産にガバナンスはあるか？

東証がコーポレートガバナンス・コードを改訂したことが話題となったが、本当のガバナンスがゴーン氏が逮捕された後の日産にあったかと言えば、怪しい。

トヨタやホンダとの差がどんどん広がって行っているように見える。ゴーン氏がリーダーシップをとっていた時には、トヨタとの差を縮めていた。

株主からみれば、どちらの方がガバナンスが効いていると言えるだろうか。答えは、株価の動きを見てみれば明らかである。

日産自動車＜7201＞週足（SBI証券提供）

FT（フィナンシャル・タイムズ）は23日、以下のように掲載した。

A crucial additional question is whether he would actually have provided services for his post-retirement compensation.

In January Toshiyuki Shiga, Nissan’s former chief operating officer, testified that he was told by Ghosn to think of ways to receive the unpaid remuneration after retirement. He took it as a directive from his boss even though he was aware of “the legal risk” of not disclosing it.

The change in Japanese rules coincided with French government pressures to cut Ghosn’s pay and reduce his influence as chief executive of Renault, which is 15 per cent owned by the French state. Ghosn grew increasingly frustrated with both the French government and his pay, Kelly told judges last week.

“There was a time in July or September that he was very seriously considering retiring at the age of 60 [March 2014],” the former head of legal affairs said. “If he retired at 60, he was still a young man and he could have a full-time role as the top executive at any auto company anywhere in the world.”

Worried that Ghosn would leave Nissan, Kelly said he consulted with Hiroto Saikawa, Ghosn’s handpicked successor as chief executive. They agreed that Nissan should consider a post-retirement payment for Ghosn through a non-compete and consulting arrangement.

In February Saikawa, who stepped down as Nissan chief executive in late 2019, also said he shared the view that Ghosn had become a retention risk, adding that it was not surprising that “a person of such huge achievement” would be in high demand.

“His [Saikawa’s] view was that he was worth $100m over a period of years,” Kelly said. “Many of Nissan’s best ideas had come from Mr Ghosn. If he came up with two ideas worth $50m, and I knew he would, he would pay for the contract.”

According to excerpts from statements that Ghosn made to prosecutors, the former chair said he never asked for the post-retirement contract and he did not find the terms desirable so there was no formal agreement with Nissan on his deferred compensation.

The case continues.

出典：The contradictory versions of Carlos Ghosn on trial in a Tokyo courtroom – Financial Times（2021年5月23日配信）

ケリー氏によると、追い出した側の西川氏も「ゴーン氏は1億ドルを払うだけの仕事ぶりであった」と考えていたということだった。

また、ゴーン氏が社長だった時代、日産の最高のアイデアの多くはゴーン氏が発案したものだという。さらに「もしゴーン氏が5,000万ドルの価値がある2つのアイデアを出せば（私はゴーン氏がそういう実績を残すと確信していたが）、それなりの金額を払うべきだとする契約をしただけだ」とケリー氏は述べている。

もっともな意見であり、発言に一貫性がある。ケリー氏が嘘をついているようには見えないのだ。

（有料メルマガ配信中！続きはご購読ください）