Jean-Dominique Senard will leave the presidency of Renault in 2027 without seeking a third term

The president of Renault Jean-Dominique Senard, 73, whose second term will end in 2027, will not ask to be reappointed. He will leave his position next year after eight years at the head of the group, a source close to the matter said on Wednesday, confirming press information.

When questioned, the group limited itself to indicating that the mandate of Jean-Dominique Senard would end during the general assembly in spring 2027. Even if the age limit for the start of a mandate is 72 years, the AG could have extended it, the group specified to the newspaper La Tribune.

At the beginning of 2019, Jean-Dominique Senard, then boss of Michelin, was called to the rescue by the State to take control of a group traumatized by the Carlos Ghosn affair. The latter had just resigned after his arrest in Tokyo by the Japanese authorities at the end of 2018 for embezzlement (his incredible flight to Lebanon will take place at the end of 2019).

Saving rebound for Renault

After the tough Carlos Ghosn, Jean-Dominique Senard’s sense of diplomacy had the effect of a balm at Renault. The all-powerful Carlos Ghosn was CEO, Jean-Dominique Senard will be president, associated with a general director, Thierry Bolloré, then Luca de Meo, and François Provost since July 2025.

In difficulty, its situation aggravated by the health crisis, in May 2020, Renault announced a savings plan, with the elimination of 15,000 jobs worldwide, including 4,600 in France, and the brand’s departure from China. Then sales and results rebound and Renault returns to innovation, notably with the launch of the electric R5 in 2024 then this month of the electric Twingo.

In 2025, for the first time since the creation of Stellantis in 2021 through the merger between PSA and Fiat Chrysler, Renault and its subsidiary Dacia took the lead in sales in France, with 26.36% market share compared to 25.79% for the 14 Stellantis brands (Peugeot, Citroën, Fiat, Jeep, Alfa Romeo, etc.).

The French group, which is focusing heavily on electricity, saw the share of electric reach 32% of its car sales in France in the first quarter of 2026, more than for the entire market (28%). This choice has a price: its operating margin decreased to 6.3% in 2025 compared to 7.6% in 2024, reduced in particular by the growing share of electric cars, less profitable than thermal cars. The group also suffered a net loss of 10.9 billion euros in 2025, linked to a revision in the value of its shares in Nissan.