Entrepreneur Stories
Carlos Ghosn – From Automobile Industry Celebrity To International Fugitive
Carlos Ghosn is a celebrity in the automobile industry because of his company turnaround stories which almost seem like fairy tales. Carlos Ghosn is currently in the news for fleeing Japan, where he is facing four criminal charges. While he is currently a wanted fugitive, the story of how he made Nissan and Renault forces to be reckoned with is worthwhile.
The Renault and Nissan alliance
When Renault was suffering from chronic underperforming sales and Nissan was nearly bankrupt, Carlos Ghosn proposed an alliance between the two automaker giants, where Renault purchased a 36.8 % stake in Nissan. Carlos Ghosn was later appointed Chief Operating Officer (COO) of both Nissan and Renault. He laid out a three year revival plan for Nissan, which was in a consolidated debt of $ 20 billion. The Nissan revival plan, announced in 1999, promised a return to profitability in the year 2000 and a profit margin over 4.5% in the year 2002 along with a reduction in 50 % of the debt by 2002.
Carlos Ghosn also promised to resign from his position if his goals were not met. Once the plan was announced, Ghosn announced major changes at Nissan, which included downsizing, letting go of 21,000 employees, which accounted for 14 % of the total workforce, shutting down multiple manufacturing plants in Japan and auctioning the aerospace unit. Other industry experts laughed at the plan and Carlos Ghosn’s decision earned him the nickname ‘Le Cost Killer.’
Japan has a hierarchy of age and seniority based promotion. At the time, Nissan had a lifetime employment policy, leading to a complacency which came with the job. Carlos Ghosn changed the employment policy from being a guarantee to a goal which needed to be achieved. Carlos Ghosn also proposed the abolishment of the Keiretsu system which was undermining Nissan’s performance. Keiretsu is an old Japanese concept of cooperation and alliances. Companies form interlocking interests and take up shareholdings. It is an unofficial and an informal form of business alliance which had long held dominance over the Japanese economy. Ghosn’s proposal to abolish this system did not sit well with the Japanese public, caused outrage and earned him the name ‘Keiretsu Killer.’
Upon achieving his targets, Ghosn became an overnight hero in Japan, where outsiders, often referred to as ‘Gaijin,’ find it hard to gain recognition. He was even depicted as a superhero in a Japanese comic book.
After bringing Nissan from the brink of bankruptcy to the second best automobile maker in Japan behind Toyota, Ghosn announced his plan to unveil the Nissan Leaf in 2010. The Nissan Leaf was dubbed as the world’s first affordable zero emission car.
The Renault-Nissan alliance is the leader of the electric vehicle segment in the world, beating Elon Musk’s Tesla. As of 2017, the alliance sold double the number of cars as Tesla.
Arrest and downfall
By 2018, many in Japan and outside were of the opinion Ghosn’s income from both Renault and Nissan was too high. A whistleblower, who was a close aide of Carlos Ghosn, said they had information Carlos Ghosn was instructing his close aide and board member Greg Kelly to create two salary accounts for Ghosn. One account held money which would be paid every fiscal year to Ghosn and the other account would hold a pot which was designated to be paid out to Carlos Ghosn after his exit from Nissan. Nissan went to the authorities with this information and it was found Carlos Ghosn was under reporting his income filings. Following this, Carlos Ghosn was arrested at the Tokyo Airport.
Following the arrest, Ghosn was sent to a detention center and had no contact with anyone except his Japanese lawyer, the Lebanese embassy and the French embassy. He alleged he was mistreated as he is a foreigner.
Carlos Ghosn recently made headlines when he fled from Japan and went to Lebanon via Turkey. Lebanon currently has no extradition treaty with Japan in place, meaning Japan currently has no way to prosecute him. Carlos Ghosn made a statement that he would disclose everything to the media in the coming months.
Read about the rise of Carlos Ghosn here: Carlos Ghosn – The Rise Of A Titan Of Automobile Industry
Apple has unveiled the new MacBook Air with M5 chip, starting at $999 for 13-inch and $1,299 for 15-inch models. The MacBook Air M5 boasts a 2nm M5 chip with 12-core CPU, 18-core GPU, and 50 TOPS Neural Engine for seamless AI tasks like real-time translation and 8K editing. Up to 22 hours of battery life, Thunderbolt 5, and Wi-Fi 7 make it the ultimate ultraportable, now 10% thinner at 0.44 inches with fanless cooling.
Key MacBook Air M5 features include Liquid Retina XDR display (500 nits, nano-texture option), 12MP Center Stage camera, and six-speaker Spatial Audio. Colors like new Sky Blue join Midnight and Starlight. Pre-orders are live today, with macOS Sequoia 15.4 enhancing Apple Intelligence and iPhone Continuity for students, pros, and remote workers.
Why buy MacBook Air M5 now? It outpaces Snapdragon X Elite rivals with ecosystem magic and future-proof performance, eyeing top 2026 laptop sales. CEO Tim Cook calls it “more capable than ever.” Visit apple.com for M5 MacBook deals and specs.
Delhi NCR-based gaming startup Zupee has acquired Mumbai-based microdrama platform Vertical TV in a deal valued under INR 40 Cr. This move strengthens Zupee Studio, its short-video arm launched in September 2025, by integrating Vertical TV’s expertise in bite-sized dramas like romance and thrillers.
Facing challenges from India’s 2025 real-money gaming ban, Zupee valued at $1 Bn after raising $120 Mn has pivoted to non-gaming content, including recent layoffs of 40% of its workforce. The acquisition builds on its November 2025 purchase of Australian AI firm Nucanon for interactive storytelling, targeting its 200 Mn+ users with engaging, mobile-first formats.
This deal underscores the rising microdrama trend in India, helping Zupee diversify amid regulatory pressures and compete in the short-video space dominated by quick, shareable content for on-the-go audiences.
T.N. Seshan’s name stands tall in India’s history as the man who transformed the nation’s electoral system with extraordinary courage and integrity. Born in 1932 in Kerala, Seshan grew up with values of discipline, education, and service to the nation — virtues that shaped his illustrious journey. From his early brilliance at Madras Christian College to his advanced studies in public administration at Harvard University, Seshan’s path reflected rare determination and intellect. Joining the Indian Administrative Service in 1955, he built a reputation as a no‑nonsense officer committed to efficiency and honesty, serving in key roles such as Secretary of Defense and overseeing vital national programs.
As the Chief Election Commissioner of India in 1990, T.N. Seshan sparked a new era of electoral integrity. In a system once marred by corruption, violence, and malpractice, Seshan brought order, fear, and respect through his groundbreaking reforms. He introduced voter ID cards, imposed strict spending limits on campaigns, and insisted on transparency at every level of the election process. Despite criticism from political circles that labeled him dictatorial, his relentless pursuit of fairness empowered every citizen to vote fearlessly. Under his leadership, the Election Commission became a symbol of strength and integrity in Indian democracy.
Seshan’s passing in November 2019 marked the end of an era, but his message continues to resonate across generations. Leaders from every corner of the country mourned the loss of the man who restored faith in free and fair elections. His enduring legacy reminds us that true leadership lies not in wielding power, but in serving people with honesty, courage, and conviction. T.N. Seshan’s life remains a timeless inspiration a reminder that democracy thrives only when its citizens are vigilant, responsible, and fearless.
Apple MacBook Air M5 Launched: M5 Chip, 22-Hour Battery in India
₹290 Crore Boost: Rozana’s Series B Funding Scales Rural Retail Network Nationwide
