Nissan not currently considering asking CEO Saikawa to resign: sources

[TOKYO] Nissan Motor is not currently considering asking embattled CEO Hiroto Saikawa to resign, two people with knowledge of the matter told Reuters on Friday, a day after he admitted to being overpaid in violation of internal procedures.

An internal investigation found that Mr Saikawa and other executives had received improper compensation, Reuters reported on Thursday, raising doubts about Mr Saikawa's pledge to improve governance in the wake of former chairman Carlos Ghosn's arrest last year for alleged financial misconduct.

"It's not going to happen. I don't think it will," one of the sources said when asked if Mr Saikawa could resign to take responsibility for the alleged misconduct.

"There's no illegality," the source said, declining to be identified because the information has not been made public.

Nissan was not immediately available to comment.

Mr Saikawa apologised on Thursday and vowed to return any improperly paid funds as he admitted to Japanese reporters that he had wrongly received stock-related compensation under "a scheme of the Ghosn era".

The improper payments, including tens of millions of yen Mr Saikawa received through a stock appreciation rights scheme, were disclosed on Wednesday at a meeting of Nissan's audit committee, Reuters previously reported.

Nissan's board, which is due to meet on Monday, is expected to discuss potential disciplinary action.

REUTERS