French President Macron suggests Renault's new president have the same role at Nissan, according to a report

TOKYO – French President Emmanuel Macron told the Japanese Prime Minister that it would be timely for Renault's new president, Jean-Dominique Senard, to also be president of Nissan, according to Fuji News Network.

Macron presented the idea to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during a phone call on Friday, the Japanese network reported, citing a person familiar with the matter.

Mr Macron also said he hoped for the speedy release of former Nissan president Carlos Ghosn, jailed in Tokyo prison since November 19, the newspaper said.

France is Renault's largest shareholder with 15% of the capital and two seats.

On January 24, the Renault Board of Directors appointed Senard as Chairman. He stated that he badumed full responsibility for the management of the French manufacturer's tripartite partnership with Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors on behalf of Renault, in conjunction with Thierry Bollore, appointed chairman at the same time. The changes in management come a few hours after the resignation of Mr. Ghosn from his position as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Renault.

Renault dominates the alliance with its 43.4% stake in Nissan. The alliance sold more cars last year than the Volkswagen Group or Toyota Motor.

Nissan and Mitsubishi replaced Ghosn as president soon after his arrest for reasons of underreporting his income. The charges have since expanded to include the transfer of personal transaction losses to Nissan, and the 64-year-old could face decades of prison if convicted. He denied having done wrong.