Who is Duncan Minto, the Interim CEO of Renault?

Renault Group announced the appointment of Duncan Minto as Interim Managing Director of Renault S.A.

Duncan Minto temporarily replaces Luca de Meo, whose departure was recently confirmed. During this transition period, Jean-Dominique Senard will chair Renault s.a.s., while the selection process for the future Managing Director is underway, supervised by the board’s governance committee.

At 50 years old, Duncan Minto is a long-time executive of the group, a true diamond man. A graduate of the University of St Andrews in Scotland, he joined Renault in 1997 in the UK. In 2001, he joined the financial management at headquarters in France, where he was responsible for investor relations. He continued his career in Southern Europe, where he became the financial director of Renault-Nissan Portugal in 2006, and then the Managing Director of Renault Ireland in 2012.

In 2013, Duncan Minto took on financial responsibilities for the Asia-Pacific region, a strategic position amid international expansion. In 2017, he became the director of the planning and financial analysis department at Renault Group, playing a central role in budget construction and performance oversight. He then joined the Dacia brand in 2022 as financial director, before taking on the same role at Alpine in 2023.

On March 1, 2025, he was promoted to Chief Financial Officer of Renault Group and joined the executive management of the manufacturer. His temporary appointment at the helm of Renault thus fits into a logic of managerial continuity. It aims to ensure the stability of the group until a new leader is appointed.

Promotion based on merit and loyalty

This transition comes at a strategic moment, as Renault prepares to publish its half-year results on July 31. With over 25 years of experience in the group, Duncan Minto embodies an international, technical, and discreet profile, capable of keeping the course during this period of change.

To succeed him, the name Maxime Picat has been frequently mentioned in recent days. The Purchasing and Supplier Quality Director at Stellantis since 2022, he was considered a candidate to succeed Carlos Tavares before being sidelined in favor of Antonio Filosa. This former head of Peugeot and ex-head of PSA in Europe, with experience in China and the Sochaux and Mulhouse factories, left Stellantis at the end of June, after 27 years in the industry. Freed from any short-term obligations, he could represent a credible external option for Renault. But who knows, an interim may very well lead to a permanent position…

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