Shareholders of Nissan Motor Co. on Tuesday approved a renewed management on Tuesday that diminishes the influence from its biggest shareholder and alliance partner, Renault SA, as it seeks to rebalance its rocky partnership with the French company.

At its annual general meeting in Yokohama, the shareholders approved a company proposal to nominate 10 directors, including current CEO Makoto Uchida. The proposal did not include the reappointment of Chief Operating Officer Ashwani Gupta, a former Renault executive who stepped down Tuesday.

The decision came as Nissan tries to gain more independence from its alliance partner Renault SA, which currently holds an over 40 percent stake in the Japanese company.

The two companies in February agreed to make their mutual cross-shareholdings equal at 15 percent in a deal that would radically change the decades-old capital alliance.

The departure of Gupta, announced earlier this month, surprised many in the industry as he was seen as a candidate for Nissan's future CEO.

Infighting among its executives was reportedly behind his decision to leave the company. Nissan said he decided to leave the company to pursue a new career.

==Kyodo

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