Leadership shift
Renault names François Provost as new group CEO
Veteran executive to lead Renault Group through its next phase of industrial evolution, with a strong focus on global partnerships, innovation and manufacturing agility.
Renault Group has appointed François Provost as its new Chief Executive Officer and Director, signalling a steady-handed continuation of its industrial transformation. With a four-year mandate effective July 31, the appointment was confirmed by the Board of Directors under the chairmanship of Jean-Dominique Senard.
Provost’s arrival as CEO is far from abrupt. The 56-year-old executive has spent 23 years at Renault, most recently overseeing procurement, partnerships and public affairs. The role placed him at the centre of the group’s increasingly agile operating model and gave him visibility over Renault’s industrial footprint, from Europe to Asia.
“It is with pride and gratitude that I welcome my appointment,” said Provost. “I would like to warmly thank my President, Jean-Dominique Senard, and the Board of Directors for the trust they have placed in me. I have a special thought for the teams across the Group who have supported me throughout these past 23 years. I will dedicate all my energy and passion to contributing – alongside our 100,000 employees, our dealers, suppliers, and partners – to the development of our Group, one of the flagships of French industry for the past 127 years.”
I am confident that François Provost will lead the Group with discernment and determination in an environment that demands both rigour in execution, strategic vision, and the ability to innovate
Jean-Dominique Senard, Chairman of the board of directors, Renault
Provost’s industrial experience spans continents and manufacturing cultures.
From Lisbon to Seoul
After earning his engineering stripes in the French civil service, he joined Renault in 2002 and took on successive senior roles, including CEO of Renault-Nissan Portugal and later Chairman and CEO of Renault Samsung Motors in South Korea. He then managed operations in Russia, led Asia-Pacific operations from Shanghai, and steered the Group’s international development, including major manufacturing strategies in China and Latin America.
This multi-regional exposure is particularly valuable as Renault pushes forward its ‘Renaulution’ industrial strategy. With factories in transformation across France, Spain, Morocco, and beyond, Provost inherits a portfolio of brownfield and greenfield assets in need of continued digitalisation and electrification.
“Renault Group benefits from strong fundamentals,” said Provost, “with committed teams, an outstanding range of products, strong brands, and an innovative organisational model. These will be invaluable assets as we accelerate our transformation in an increasingly demanding environment for our industry.”
An industrial operator with a global mindset
For Senard, Provost’s appointment is a vote for continuity, but also for pragmatism in an industry increasingly shaped by supply-side pressures, regionalisation and shifting regulatory regimes.
“I am confident that François Provost will lead the Group with discernment and determination in an environment that demands both rigour in execution, strategic vision, and the ability to innovate,” said Senard. “At Renault Group, there is no place for the status quo. Thanks to his expertise and knowledge of the company, we will be able to complete the implementation of our strategic plan, finalise the terms of the next one, and ensure its successful execution.”
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The strategic plan Senard refers to is expected to be shaped around continued electrification, new industrial partnerships and decarbonisation of Renault’s production network. Provost’s earlier leadership in partnerships with Nissan, Geely and Aramco suggest he is likely to place collaboration at the centre of Renault’s manufacturing approach.
A pivotal moment for Renault’s industrial base
The announcement comes just ahead of Renault’s half-year financial results and amidst restructuring moves in its industrial operations, including Ampere’s focus on EV platforms and the ongoing reshaping of the Group’s internal combustion activities via Horse. Provost will be expected to navigate labour transitions, supplier consolidation and CapEx reallocation with political sensitivity and commercial acuity.
Whether Renault’s plants in France, Turkey and Latin America will benefit from renewed investment or further specialisation under Provost remains to be seen. What is clear is that his track record in factory leadership, cross-border operations and stakeholder management gives him tools not only to protect Renault’s industrial core but to reinvent it.
