Renault-Nissan chief Carlos Ghosn is being honored by the UK for his "contribution to relations between the UK and Japan". Ghosn will be appointed "Honorary Knight Commander of the British Empire" (which, incredibly, actually has nothing to do with either Dungeons and Dragons or the Lord of the Rings).
Like Mario Andretti's commendatore honor bestowed by the Italian consul-general in New York, Ghosn will be pseudo-knighted in a ceremony at the British Embassy in Tokyo. Because he's a foreign national, we can't technically call him "sir", but he can add the letters KBE to his name. Ghosn is actually the second Datsun chief to receive the honor, after former Nissan chairman Takashi Ishihara received the same in 1992.
Ghosn attributed the recognition to the "hard work and achievements" of Nissan's 5500 employees and 220 dealers in the United Kingdom. After winning both the constructors' and drivers' championships in Formula One just this past Sunday, we bet this will make Ghosn walk even taller. Congratulations, Carlos!
[Source: Autocar via Winding Road]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Hamud @ Oct 24th 2006 10:52AM
That's the same honorary knighthood that Sean Connery received???
Don T. @ Oct 24th 2006 10:55AM
Am I the only one who thinks Ghosn looks just like Lilo&Stitch's Jumba Jookiba?
Annie Liebowitz @ Oct 24th 2006 11:07AM
Oh yes. His head's abotu to brust.
First he's the honorary Knight of Tracinda and now this?!!
Nick @ Oct 24th 2006 11:09AM
I heard Carlos Ghosn and Jesus share the same DNA. Hmmmmm.
Ian @ Oct 24th 2006 11:09AM
So one can get a Brit knigthood for advantaging 5K British workers?
Surely there should be thousands of non British Knights made for equal or more persuasive deals? Of are the Brits merely after another British based Nissan manufacturing plant?
This isn't to say Goshn isn't s superb manager, he is IMHO, but this Brit award looks are very long stretch...
Mr_Oak @ Oct 24th 2006 11:34AM
Ok, am I the only to notice that the royal family must have monthly quotas to fill when it comes to knighthood? Every 10th schmuck that deplanes at Heathrow seems to get knighted. Queen Liz seems to be tougher on women though, Dame(hood)? Seems tougher to obtain.
Lost respect for the award when John Egan (builder of notoriously bad Jaguars) was knighted.
D Man @ Oct 24th 2006 11:40AM
He turned around Nissan. He is an icon/celebrity in Japan, even has his own cartoon.
In the UK he is proliferating Nissan vehicles along with jobs and income.
He is international, well spoked and helps build bridges between cultures. I think he is well deserving!
Juan @ Oct 24th 2006 11:47AM
I don't know about the Lilo & Stitch thing, but he does look a little bit like Mr. Bean. Maybe the queen thinks she's knighting Rowan Atkinson.
RDL @ Oct 24th 2006 11:50AM
"2. Am I the only one who thinks Ghosn looks just like Lilo&Stitch's Jumba Jookiba?
Posted at 10:55AM on Oct 24th 2006 by Don T."
Yes, he does!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Dr_Jumba.jpg
bernie @ Oct 24th 2006 11:52AM
I have to chuckle at the chronic underachievers who come out of the woodwork to make fun of one of the most successful businessmen of our time. Every time Nissan is mentioned "they're in trouble," every time Ghosn is mentioned his success is somehow passed off as illegitimate.
Check back here secon quarter '07 after the new vehicles have cleaned up and things are humming again. By then the brain dead hamsters of Detroit will have changed their handle and found something else to whine about.
loikll @ Oct 24th 2006 12:43PM
Who knew the guy was good with a sword? I wonder if he gets his war horse and suit of armor for free?
Corey W. @ Oct 24th 2006 1:18PM
Hey, does this award come with honorary suit of armour and a sword?!?!?!
bernie,
The only dead hamsters are the sacrificial ones lying on your alter with a picture of Ghosen.
Dude, have a sense of humor....
Mr_Oak @ Oct 24th 2006 1:32PM
--->#11. Ha, I am working, from home today.
--->#10. I did not dis Carlos, just poking a little fun at the world's wealthiest welfare recipients. By the way since we're talking about the auto industries, Whatever happened to the once mighty British auto empire?
Rolls-Royce
Bentley
Jaguar
Aston Martin
Lotus
RangeLand Rover
Mini Cooper
Who's pimping Rover today? What did I hear about TVR going under? Like British Leyland before them.
Seems like the only two major historic brands that managed to soldier on without looking for sugar-daddies, are the ones are the ones run by the braindead hamsters in Detroit.
FM @ Oct 24th 2006 2:37PM
Wow, he does look like Jumba...
s @ Oct 24th 2006 4:30PM
yeah check it out !
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jumba_Jookiba
morton's valet @ Oct 24th 2006 7:35PM
Geez, number 10 can't auto hacks have a little fun? Ghosn got off easy. The Queen is taking more hits than Carlito.
And to all you underachievers, get back to work! :)