Renault Taps François Provost as CEO to Lead US$3.2 Billion Plan

Renault Group has appointed François Provost as its new CEO and Chairman of Renault. The Board of Directors, led by Chairman Jean-Dominique Senard, confirmed Provost’s four-year mandate following the departure of Luca de Meo and the interim leadership of Duncan Minto. 

Provost will now oversee a €3 billion (US$3.2 billion) investment plan aimed at launching eight new models by 2027. The initiative seeks to reduce Renault’s reliance on European markets, which currently account for 70% of its global production. He underscored the urgency of global expansion: “We must compete with Chinese manufacturers and strengthen our presence in emerging markets,” said Provost.

Provost, who joined Renault in 2002, previously served as Chief Procurement, Partnerships and Public Affairs Officer. His career includes executive roles in Portugal, South Korea, Russia, and China, as well as key involvement in Renault’s strategic alliances with Nissan, Geely, and Aramco.

“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. 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,” said Senard. 

Provost acknowledged the scale of the challenges ahead and reaffirmed his commitment to the company’s stakeholders. “I will dedicate all my energy and passion to contributing – alongside our 100,000 employees, dealers, suppliers, and partners – to the development of our Group,” he said. “Renault Group benefits from strong fundamentals, with committed teams, a standout product lineup, powerful brands, and an innovative organizational model. These are invaluable assets as we accelerate our transformation in an increasingly demanding industry.”

During his interim term, Minto initiated a strategic shift from volume-based growth to value creation. This included cost reductions in manufacturing, commercial operations, and R&D, as well as enhanced logistics integration through digital control towers. According to Jean-Marc Carlicchi, Renault’s Vice President of Supply Chain Engineering, these towers aggregate real-time data and use machine learning to predict delays, optimize flows, and manage disruptions across inbound and outbound logistics.