The round face tanned and bangs pepper, it is a step ahead of in a hurry and smiling when the president of Renault, Jean-Dominique Sénard, it leaves the word in the middle of the general assembly of the manufacturer, last Friday. White shirt, suit and tie black, Luca de Meo, the new director-general of the Rhombus, which should officially take office on July 1, is expressed for the first time publicly. His speech lasts exactly 8 minutes.
Since the beginning of the month of June, the Italian began to meet leaders and visit sites of the company, thanks to a relaxation of the non-competition clause imposed by Volkswagen. In a French almost without an accent – he speaks also English, Italian, Spanish and German –, the ex-architect of the turnaround of Seat, a subsidiary of VW, is said to be “moved” to find Renault. It was there that he began his career, nearly thirty years before.
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“I am quite aware of the difficulty of the situation”
One who describes himself as an “automotive enthusiast” claims that he likes challenges, especially when there are a brand to rebuild, is in a financial position to balance, and talent to bring people together “. Luca de Meo found this cocktail, taking the head of the firm of Boulogne-Billancourt. Disturbed since the departure of Carlos Ghosn, and by the plunge in registrations, Renault was expected to remove 15,000 jobs in the world, 4 of which 600 in France, 8% of the 180 000 employees in the group, and obtained a loan guaranteed by the State of € 5 billion.
Read also Renault : 4 600 jobs in France, the factory of Choisy-le-Roi closed
” Straighten one of the largest and most prestigious automobile manufacturers in the world is one of the most beautiful challenges I have had to this day […]. I am quite aware of the difficulty of the situation in which the undertaking is situated, aggravated by adverse economic conditions and unprecedented, ” says Luca de Meo. To the shareholders of the manufacturer, he asks “a little time” to make ” Renault one of the best surprises of the reversal of your investment portfolio “.
The French roots are at the heart of Renault
his mission, Luca de Meo will be paid 1.3 million euros per year of fixed salary, which is more than his predecessor, Thierry Bolloré ( 900 000 euros), to which is added a variable remuneration of up to eur 5 million per year, according to the performance of the manufacturer. “It is with humility and also serenity, as I take office July 1, he says again. Humility, because the challenge is large-scale and serenity, because it is a situation that I’ve sometimes lived and I was able to see that you can pull from the top. “And added :” automotive brands have the soul in their roots. The French roots are at the heart of Renault. “
Luca de Meo must, in particular, make this Tuesday, in Sandouville. The site Seine-Maritime, which manufactures commercial vehicles is now at full speed, after an ignition is delayed due to an appeal of the CGT.
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Renault : 4 600 jobs in France, the factory of Choisy-le-Roi, closed The Italian Luca De Meo will save there Renault ?
