The Renault Group paid tribute on Friday to Louis Schweitzer, the driving force behind one of the most significant modernization efforts at the French automaker during the 1990s, who passed away the previous day at the age of 83.
"I wish to honor the memory of Louis Schweitzer, a visionary and bold leader whose commitment and high standards contributed to the modernization and internationalization of the group," said Jean-Dominique Senard, current chairman of Renault, in a statement.
Born in Geneva in 1942 and a graduate of the École nationale d'administration (ENA), Louis Schweitzer began his career as a financial inspector before becoming chief of staff to Socialist Prime Minister Laurent Fabius in the 1980s.
Appointed Renault's chief financial officer in 1986, he became CEO in 1992. Under his leadership, the company was privatized in 1996, the same year Carlos Ghosn joined the diamond-badged group. Three years later, in 1999, Schweitzer orchestrated the strategic alliance with Nissan as well as the acquisition of the Romanian brand Dacia, several of whose affordable models are now among the automaker's bestsellers.
"Under his chairmanship, Renault Group underwent major transformations," stated François Provost, managing director of Renault, as quoted in the release.
Schweitzer's tenure, which ended in 2005, was also marked by the launch of the first Twingo. The revival of this model, now fully electric, was unveiled on Thursday.
(Written by Gilles Guillaume, edited by Blandine Hénault)
