Renault India head quits, firm announces top mgt rejig

French auto major Renault today announced a top management rejig at its Indian subsidiary after the resignation of its head of operations in the country, Sylvain Bilaine.

"After 25 years with Renault and the last four years heading Renault operations in India, Sylvain Bilaine has decided to leave the company to create his own consultancy firm in France," Renault India said in a statement. Bilaine was Country General Manager for Renault in India.

Effective April 1, Marc Nassif will be appointed Executive Director of Renault India and Country General Manager for Renault in India, responsible for all activities of Renault in India, the statement added.

Nassif is currently Deputy Managing Director of Renault Nissan Automotive Private Ltd (RNAIPL), based in Chennai, and will continue to keep this responsibility and report to Katsumi Nakamura, member of the Renault Executive Committee and Leader of the Region Asia Africa, it said.

Sudhir Rao has been appointed Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Renault India, who in turn will report to Nassif, the statement said.

Renault has halted its plans to launch cars in India till 2010 in the wake of the global slowdown and the company has decided to hold back investment in assembly line at its Chennai plant.

The company had last year announced a Rs 4,500-crore investment over seven years to produce four lakh cars annually in an alliance with its Japanese group company Nissan.