NISSAN has rewarded the architect of its acclaimed British car plant with a top job in the dramatically slimmed-down management team which has been charged with steering the troubled Japanese giant to a better performance in key global markets.

But three of the remaining 10 boardroom seats after 27 dismissals at Nissan Motor Co Ltd (NML) are now occupied by directors from Renault, which has a 36.8% controlling stake in the company after an investment of £3.35billion.

Former president Yoshikazu Hanawa remains as chief executive officer of Japan's second-largest car maker. However, his No.2 and chief operating officer is Carlos Ghosn, executive vice-president of Renault. With him are Patrick Pelata, the French company's executive vice-president in charge of products and corporate planning, and Thierry Moulonget, senior vice-president in charge of finance.

Norio Matsumura, former president of Nissan Europe, has taken one of the remaining six NML seats and Sir Ian Gibson — who inspired the development of Nissan Motor Manufacturing (UK) at Sunderland to become Europe's role model in efficient and productive automotive manufacturing — has the key role of driving the company's European operations and co-ordinating the Nissan-Renault partnership.