Ghosn arrest a red flag to foreigners aiming at top jobs in Japan
Imprisonment of high-profile foreigner may stymie the nation’s efforts to diversify its corporate ranks with overseas talent, management experts say
Tokyo — The stunning arrest, indictments and long incarceration of former Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn have given pause to foreign executives considering taking on senior jobs at Japanese companies. As Ghosn enters his fourth month in jail and awaits a trial still several months away, the imprisonment of the Japanese business world’s most high-profile foreigner may stymie the nation’s efforts to diversify its corporate ranks with overseas talent, according to management experts. Foreign executives may think twice about accepting positions until they see how his case plays out and whether it leads to stricter compliance rules. “It’s having a chilling effect,” said Yumiko Ohta, a partner in Tokyo with the law firm Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe who advises clients on corporate governance. “It’s going to be much more difficult to recruit foreign executives into Japan.” The inability of such a prominent business leader to win his release while awaiting trial could scare some foreigners — no m...
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