Sunday, November 25, 2018

Chanda Kochhar and Carlos Ghosn

ICICI Bank's Board continued to express confidence in the bank's CEO despite serious allegations against her which were believed to be true by everyone except the wise Board. Nissan's Board threw out its Chairman relying on accusations believed perhaps only by the Board.

As yet, we do not have the response of Carlos Ghosn to allegations of financial misconduct against him. He was taken into custody the moment Nissan reported the findings of an enquiry. The accused in India are lucky to have the kind of police we have here who will not dare to arrest any influential person whatever be the gravity of offense. In fact, greater the gravity, the lesser the chances of arrest !

It is said that the offences that Ghosn is deemed guilty of, namely underreporting of income and personal use of company's assets, are not uncommon even in Japan and therefore do not invite the wrath of law-enforcing agencies. It is further argued that the Japanese do not want a French company, Renault, to dictate to Nissan. This 'nationalistic spirit' has led to the downfall of Carlos Ghosn reputed for his cost-cutting efficiency.

Japanese are known to be loyal to their bosses. It is therefore surprising that Ghosn's protege Saikawa, Nissan's CEO, let him down by propagating the alleged charges. Does it mean that the Japanese are loyal only to Japanese bosses?

Born in Brazil to Lebanese parents, Ghosn is a French citizen leading, among others, a Japanese company. Truly a global citizen, it is ironic that he has come to grief the way he did falling a prey perhaps to 'Japanese jingoism'.

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