Carlos Ghosn was famed for his intense work ethic at the helm of three of the largest automotive companies in the world.
But that lifestyle, and its punishing travel schedule, came to an abrupt halt in 2018 when he was detained in Japan amid accusations of financial irregularities at Nissan – before he was famously smuggled out in a music equipment box while awaiting trial in late 2019.
His final destination was Lebanon, the country where he spent much of his childhood.
“I always loved Lebanon, I always maintained contact with Lebanon. Not as a country where I would work, but certainly as a country where I have friends, part of my family. I really enjoy the beautiful landscape, the food and the warmth of the people,” Mr Ghosn, who holds Lebanese, Brazilian and French citizenship, said.
“This being said, I travelled so much in my life,” he told The National, adding that he was now in a period of “forced rest”.
“I’m enjoying it. The fact that I don’t have any more jet lags, I have a very stable time of sleeping, eating. I see the people I want to see, not the people I have to see. All of this is a new world for me,” Mr Ghosn said.
“I lived 40 years in the corporate world, where you are used to completely different standards. So yes, I miss some things. But I’m enjoying a lot of new things that are happening in my life.”
Mr Ghosn vehemently rejects the accusations levied against him, which include allegations he under-reported his earnings and misappropriated company funds. He has not left Lebanon since his remarkable escape and Lebanese judge issued a travel ban against him in early 2020.
He has, however, not stayed still, as an upbeat Mr Ghosn told The National at an office in Beirut.
“I work at a university, I’m giving a seminar on management on performance. I'm writing new books, participating in movies, I'm helping a lot of start-ups in development.
“I think one of the big opportunities for Lebanon is to use the intelligence, the talent and the education of its people to just get out of the problems that it is facing today.
“That's why guiding, helping [and] investing in start-ups is one of the best ways to help young people turn around the country or contribute to the country,” he said, wearing a light blue shirt - in contrast to the suit and tie he was typically seen in during his time at Nissan.
Mr Ghosn recently filed a lawsuit of more than $1 billion against Nissan in a Lebanese court for – among other things – defamation, breaching the sanctity of his residence and fabricating charges that led to his detention in Japan.
Asked what he would do with the money if he won, Mr Ghosn said part would be used to support Lebanon.
“There are a lot of needs here. Not only in terms of supporting start-ups and employment, but also supporting education,” he said.
“But also to recover a big part of what has been taken directly and indirectly from me. They didn't pay the retirement, they took all the stock options,” Mr Ghosn said, naming a couple of the things he accused Nissan of taking from him.
Nissan has not commented since the lawsuit was launched.
Mr Ghosn’s escape is as famous as it is dramatic. After repeatedly being detained before then being bailed, he had lost any faith in the Japanese justice system and describes it as being rigged.
With the help of private security contractors, including a former US Special Forces operator, he was smuggled in a musical equipment box on to a private jet before arriving in Beirut via Turkey.
“The most scary part of the escape is that it would fail. Everything else was OK. My big fear, frankly, was failure, that hope would be eliminated completely,” he said.
“Because what the Japanese had prepared for me is a slow death through a very, very lengthy trial.
“And this is what is shocking, you know, you dedicate 20 years of your life to resuscitate a Japanese company, which becomes one of the major companies in Japan. And you're being rewarded like this?”
But there is still an affection for Japan and its people, even if not for some of his former colleagues.
“I like Japan, I have lots of Japanese friends. It's part of my life, I spent 20 years. It's not because of the behaviours of some thugs both inside and outside Nissan that I'm going to hate a country that is part of my life.”
Even as Lebanon languishes in one of the worst economic crises in modern history, do not, however, expect him to suddenly enter into the political world.
“No, it’s not in my space,” he said, when asked if he would ever have political ambitions.
“I’m a little bit the contrary of a politician, I'm more of a straightforward guy. I like to take jobs, to fix things – not fake fixing them. But I will help politicians into turning around the situation, if they were asking.”
The biog
Favourite films: Casablanca and Lawrence of Arabia
Favourite books: Start with Why by Simon Sinek and Good to be Great by Jim Collins
Favourite dish: Grilled fish
Inspiration: Sheikh Zayed's visionary leadership taught me to embrace new challenges.
Results:
6.30pm: Maiden Dh165,000 2,000m - Winner: Powderhouse, Sam Hitchcott (jockey), Doug Watson (trainer)
7.05pm: Handicap Dh165,000 2,200m - Winner: Heraldic, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
7.40pm: Conditions Dh240,000 1,600m - Winner: Walking Thunder, Connor Beasley, Ahmed bin Harmash
8.15pm: Handicap Dh190,000 2,000m - Winner: Key Bid, Fernando Jara, Ali Rashid Al Raihe
8.50pm: The Garhoud Sprint Listed Dh265,000 1,200m - Winner: Drafted, Sam Hitchcott, Doug Watson
9.25pm: Handicap Dh170,000 1,600m - Winner: Cachao, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar
10pm: Handicap Dh190,000 1,400m - Winner: Rodaini, Connor Beasley, Ahmed bin Harmash
Match info
Liverpool 3
Hoedt (10' og), Matip (21'), Salah (45 3')
Southampton 0
Company profile
Date started: January, 2014
Founders: Mike Dawson, Varuna Singh, and Benita Rowe
Based: Dubai
Sector: Education technology
Size: Five employees
Investment: $100,000 from the ExpoLive Innovation Grant programme in 2018 and an initial $30,000 pre-seed investment from the Turn8 Accelerator in 2014. Most of the projects are government funded.
Partners/incubators: Turn8 Accelerator; In5 Innovation Centre; Expo Live Innovation Impact Grant Programme; Dubai Future Accelerators; FHI 360; VSO and Consult and Coach for a Cause (C3)
The Vile
Starring: Bdoor Mohammad, Jasem Alkharraz, Iman Tarik, Sarah Taibah
Director: Majid Al Ansari
Rating: 4/5
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
GOLF’S RAHMBO
- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)
%3Cp%3EThe%20Department%20of%20Culture%20and%20Tourism%20-%20Abu%20Dhabi%E2%80%99s%20Arabic%20Language%20Centre%20will%20mark%20International%20Women%E2%80%99s%20Day%20at%20the%20Bologna%20Children's%20Book%20Fair%20with%20the%20Abu%20Dhabi%20Translation%20Conference.%20Prolific%20Emirati%20author%20Noora%20Al%20Shammari%2C%20who%20has%20written%20eight%20books%20that%20%20feature%20in%20the%20Ministry%20of%20Education's%20curriculum%2C%20will%20appear%20in%20a%20session%20on%20Wednesday%20to%20discuss%20the%20challenges%20women%20face%20in%20getting%20their%20works%20translated.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
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KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Tamkeen's offering
- Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
- Option 2: 50% across three years
- Option 3: 30% across five years
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
HWJN
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Why it pays to compare
A comparison of sending Dh20,000 from the UAE using two different routes at the same time - the first direct from a UAE bank to a bank in Germany, and the second from the same UAE bank via an online platform to Germany - found key differences in cost and speed. The transfers were both initiated on January 30.
Route 1: bank transfer
The UAE bank charged Dh152.25 for the Dh20,000 transfer. On top of that, their exchange rate margin added a difference of around Dh415, compared with the mid-market rate.
Total cost: Dh567.25 - around 2.9 per cent of the total amount
Total received: €4,670.30
Route 2: online platform
The UAE bank’s charge for sending Dh20,000 to a UK dirham-denominated account was Dh2.10. The exchange rate margin cost was Dh60, plus a Dh12 fee.
Total cost: Dh74.10, around 0.4 per cent of the transaction
Total received: €4,756
The UAE bank transfer was far quicker – around two to three working days, while the online platform took around four to five days, but was considerably cheaper. In the online platform transfer, the funds were also exposed to currency risk during the period it took for them to arrive.
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Company Profile
Name: JustClean
Based: Kuwait with offices in other GCC countries
Launch year: 2016
Number of employees: 130
Sector: online laundry service
Funding: $12.9m from Kuwait-based Faith Capital Holding
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Skoda Superb Specs
Engine: 2-litre TSI petrol
Power: 190hp
Torque: 320Nm
Price: From Dh147,000
Available: Now
Bio:
Favourite Quote: Prophet Mohammad's quotes There is reward for kindness to every living thing and A good man treats women with honour
Favourite Hobby: Serving poor people
Favourite Book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Favourite food: Fish and vegetables
Favourite place to visit: London
THREE
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AL%20BOOM
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