Nissan Reportedly Spied On Former COO As CEO Searched For Leverage

Nissan Reportedly Spied On Former COO As CEO Searched For Leverage

Share to Linkedin Nissan's security team installed a camera surveillance system at former chief operating officer Ashwani Gupta's home to monitor him, according to an investigation, which was launched after another executive claimed CEO Makato Uchida was surveilling Gupta in an effort to gain leverage over him. According to a preliminary report from the investigation, carried out by U. S. law firm Davis Polk & Wardwell, Nissan installed two sets of security camera systems outside of Gupta's home in Tokyo, Reuters reported. One of the camera systems was monitored by a private security company while the other was accessed by Nissan's security team, though it is unknown whether Gupta—whose final day with the company was yesterday—was aware of the surveillance. The investigation was launched after senior vice president Hari Nada claimed Uchida was surveilling Gupta, according to a letter obtained by the Financial Times, after Gupta presented challenges toward completing a new partnership deal with Renault. Nada also claimed Gupta was asked to resign by Nissan's audit committee in April, after the committee presented Gupta with allegations of harassment against him from a female employee, though the company later announced Gupta "elected to leave" in order to "pursue other opportunities."