Saikawa wins reforms at Nissan

YOKOHAMA, Japan – Nissan shareholders approved sweeping reforms to improve corporate governance at the automaker following last year’s arrest and ouster of former Chairman Carlos Ghosn, while embattled CEO Hiroto Saikawa signaled he was preparing to step aside.

Saikawa, saying it was his intention to take responsibility for the scandal, said that implementing the structural overhaul marked an important “personal” milestone. He said his focus would now turn to developing a next-generation leadership to take the helm of the company.

“I am reaching a big milestone personally in terms of fulfilling my responsibility,” Saikawa said during the Japanese automaker’s June 25 annual shareholders’ meeting at a convention center here not far from its global headquarters. “We need to think about the future of the company and succession plan, preparation for that, and be ready for the next step… In order to fulfill my remaining responsibilities, I would like to focus on and prepare the successors.”

Added Saikawa: “That is another imminent challenge.”