Renault appoints Duncan Minto as temporary CEO, a position held by a British executive.
In the world of automobiles, Renault is making headlines with a series of significant developments. Duncan Minto, the company's long-standing Chief Financial Officer, has taken over as interim CEO following the sudden departure of Luca de Meo. De Meo, who led Renault for five years, has resigned to take on the role of chief executive at French luxury group Kering, effective from September 15, 2025, pending board approvals.
De Meo's leadership saw a marked improvement in Renault's financial performance, with the company's stock price increasing by 90% over five years due to his aggressive cost-cutting and restructuring measures. However, his departure has left Renault in a period of transition as they search for a permanent successor.
The current financial forecast for Renault is less rosy, with the company revising its annual operating margin forecast for 2025 down to around 6.5% of turnover, a decrease from a previously expected minimum of 7.0%. This revision comes in response to deteriorating trends in the automobile sector. Renault also reported a significant free cash flow (FCF) of just €47 million, well below analysts’ expectations of €645 million. This news led to an 18% drop in Renault’s share price on July 17, 2025.
Renault also reported a 9.5-billion-euro loss earlier in 2025, a stark reminder of the financial strain the company is currently experiencing.
Despite these challenges, Renault continues its alliance with Nissan, a partnership formed in 1999. Although they own shares in each other, they have not merged, and the alliance has been described as "rocky". Nissan, too, is facing financial difficulties, posting a net loss of $4.5 billion for the financial year ending March 2025.
In the realm of motorsport, Renault owns the Alpine Formula 1 team. The team will undergo a major change in 2026, shifting from manufacturing its own power units to using customer engines supplied by Mercedes, ending its works power unit production at Viry.
The leadership change at Renault and weaker sector trends have introduced uncertainty into Renault’s strategy, particularly as it deepens its transition to electric vehicles (EVs) and faces rising tariffs internationally.
Renault's future CEO is expected to be announced soon, with Francois Provost, the company's procurement chief, reported as the leading candidate.
In the meantime, industry professionals can stay connected and informed with the Renault app, accessible to a community of over 2 million users. The app offers a means to access industry news and analysis on a smartphone, allowing users to save their favourite articles and stay updated on the go. Subscribing to the Renault newsletter also provides the latest insights and analysis straight to one's inbox. The app can be found on the Renault website, as well as on Telegram, Facebook, and with a link to copy.
[1] Agence France-Presse, (2025). Renault lowers annual operating margin forecast, faces uncertainty. [online] Available at: https://www.afp.com/en/news/1188-renault-lowers-annual-operating-margin-forecast-faces-uncertainty-2025-07-17
[2] Agence France-Presse, (2025). Renault's de Meo resigns to lead Kering, Minto appointed interim CEO. [online] Available at: https://www.afp.com/en/news/1187-renault-s-de-meo-resigns-to-lead-kering-minto-appointed-interim-ceo-2025-07-17
[3] Agence France-Presse, (2025). Renault reports large loss, faces challenges in Formula 1. [online] Available at: https://www.afp.com/en/news/1189-renault-reports-large-loss-faces-challenges-formula-1-2025-07-17
[4] Agence France-Presse, (2025). Renault's financial report reveals struggles despite de Meo's leadership. [online] Available at: https://www.afp.com/en/news/1186-renault-s-financial-report-reveals-struggles-despite-de-meo-s-leadership-2025-07-17
[5] Agence France-Presse, (2025). Provost emerges as leading candidate for Renault's permanent CEO position. [online] Available at: https://www.afp.com/en/news/1188-provost-emerges-leading-candidate-renault-s-permanent-ceo-position-2025-07-17
- With the drop in Renault's share price due to a less rosy financial forecast and a significant free cash flow gap, industry experts are discussing the financial implications within the automotive and finance sectors.
- Amidst industry challenges in the transportation and automotive sectors, Renault users can stay updated through the Renault app, with features like accessing news, analysis, and savings preferred articles, all available on a smartphone and the Renault website.
- As uncertainties arise from Renault's transition to electric vehicles (EVs) and the effects of increasing tariffs, ad campaigns focusing on their electrification and resilience strategy may become increasingly important in the advertising industry.
