PRESS CONFERENCE
Carlos Ghosn, Former Nissan Motor Co. & Renault CEO and Chairman
15:00-16:00 Monday, December 23, 2024
(The speech and Q & A will be in English.)
*Mr. Ghosn will join the event online.
Former Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn will address the club via Zoom from Lebanon on the fifth anniversary of his dramatic escape from Japan and its "hostage justice" system.
Ghosn is prepared to discuss ongoing legal battles, including a criminal case in Lebanon against Nissan and nearly a dozen current and former executives. So far the court has agreed to move forward with the prosecution of four individuals.
Arrested in November 2018, Ghosn spent over 100 days in detention under conditions that sparked international criticism of Japan's legal system.
In addition to legal issues, Ghosn will speak about Nissan's financial struggles. The architect of the automaker's turnaround in 1999, rescuing it from near bankruptcy and propelling it to global prominence, he now observes Nissan's decline from afar.
Japan's third-largest automaker in 2023 — it could fall to fourth in 2024—Nissan expects to sell fewer than 3.4 million vehicles this year, a stark drop from its 2017 peak under Ghosn of 5.7 million.
Ghosn's ties to the club date back to November 2000, when he shared progress on Nissan's recovery. His planned press conference in April 2019 was abruptly canceled after Tokyo prosecutors raided his apartment and re-arrested him on new charges. Many, including Ghosn, saw this as an attempt to silence him.
The saga took a surreal turn on December 29, 2019, when Ghosn, with the aid of Mike Taylor, escaped from Japan. Smuggled out as cargo in a private jet, he famously hid in a black musical equipment box, marking one of the most dramatic moments in modern corporate history.
How to attend: Please register at front@fccj.or.jp with your name, the name of your media outlet, and FCCJ membership number. Doors open 15 minutes before the event. Please sign in and giving your name and contact details at the reception.
How to watch online: https://www.youtube.com/c/FCCJchannel/live
How to ask questions: https://forms.gle/3EVqsfFgH1VxTf4g7
TV crew: Please make a reservation at front@fccj.or.jp. Doors open for TV crews only at 30 minutes before the event.
Professional Activities Committee