PARIS (Reuters) -Renault procurement chief Francois Provost has emerged as the front-runner for the CEO job at the French automaker, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter.
While no final decision has been made, Renault’s board of directors is due to meet Wednesday to approve first-half results and discuss the CEO appointment, it said.
French newspapers Le Figaro and Les Echos also reported that Provost was the leading candidate for the job.
Asked to comment on the reports, a Renault spokeswoman said the selection process was still underway but was well-advanced. She would not make further comments.
One source close to the matter said the board and its nomination committee will meet Wednesday, adding that an announcement should be made after the market closed.
Renault has been searching for a permanent replacement for CEO Luca de Meo who resigned suddenly in June to join luxury group Kering.
Earlier this month, Renault named finance chief Duncan Minto as interim CEO and warned of weaker-than-expected June sales volumes.
The company, which will publish its full half-year figures on July 31, has also revised down its full-year operating margin and free cash flow forecasts.
(Reporting by Gilles Guillaume and Dominique Vidalon; Editing by Makini Brice)
