Renault: Jean-Dominique Senard announces his departure from the presidency in 2027

It's a planned exit, almost old-fashioned, in a CAC 40 index accustomed to upheavals. Jean-Dominique Senard will step down as chairman of Renault's board of directors after the 2027 shareholders' meeting, without seeking re-election as a director at the end of his term. At 73, the executive is opting for the classic timeline for governing a listed company, one that avoids surprises and gives shareholders time to adjust to the idea.

Back in January 2019, Renault was reeling from the crisis triggered by the arrest in Japan of Carlos Ghosn, the former CEO who had become a symbol of a failing system. Senard arrived to stabilize the company, restore calm where authority had evaporated, and reinstate a semblance of normalcy both within the company and in its external relations. The most explosive issue was quickly identified: the Alliance with Nissan, a long-standing partner, which was riddled with mistrust.

In this matter, the chairman takes control of the institutional side, that discreet arena where power dynamics play out. He oversees the rebalancing of ties with Nissan, with a complete overhaul of industrial partnerships and cross-shareholdings patiently accumulated over the years. His background is no gamble: former CEO of Michelin between 2012 and 2019, with experience at Saint-Gobain and Pechiney, Senard carries with him a reputation as a solid industrialist, the kind who prefers hands-on work to grandstanding.

A changing of the guard in an industry under pressure

The question that no one yet dares to address publicly remains: who will take over? The board of directors will have to organize the succession with a shareholder base that is far from insignificant, with the French state holding a 15% stake among its major shareholders. In this game, stability is as important as the choice of a name, because Renault cannot afford a messy transition when its competitors are accelerating and the markets abhor improvisation.

Because the next president won't just be a discreet arbiter. He'll have to contend with a reshaping automotive sector, caught between electrification, industrial transformation, cost pressures, and a technological war that isn't always openly acknowledged. Renault, engaged in these changes, is walking a tightrope: investing heavily without losing its balance, convincing partners, reassuring employees, and maintaining the ear of investors.

For now, no successor has been put forward, a sign that the process is only just beginning or that the board wants to give itself some leeway. Senard, for his part, will still have two years to properly close the chapter, hand over sensitive files, and leave behind a well-run company, which is often the best achievement of a chairman. Between now and 2027, Renault will primarily have to prove that the restored stability in governance can translate into lasting results, in a market where missed opportunities are irreversible.