Former Nissan Chairman Carlos Ghosn speaks to Japanese media during an interview in Beirut. AP
Former Nissan Chairman Carlos Ghosn speaks to Japanese media during an interview in Beirut. AP
Former Nissan Chairman Carlos Ghosn speaks to Japanese media during an interview in Beirut. AP
Former Nissan Chairman Carlos Ghosn speaks to Japanese media during an interview in Beirut. AP

Here's what Ghosn can do to restore his tarnished reputation


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Carlos Ghosn captured the world’s attention by being spirited out of Japan in a private jet concealed in a box often used for audio equipment with the help of a security detail led by a former Green Beret. He evaded two trials on charges of financial misconduct. Now he wants to salvage his shattered reputation.

The former head of Nissan and Renault appeared as brash as ever at a two-and-a-half hour long press conference in Beirut on Wednesday. He railed against Japan’s justice system and accused prosecutors and Nissan officials of fomenting a plot to overthrow him, going so far as to compare the shock of his arrest to the Pearl Harbor attack.

The journey back to respectability is an uncertain one. Here’s what the pros of the public relations world think Mr Ghosn should do.

Larry Kamer, a crisis management expert at Kamer Consulting in Napa, California:

“You’d think a guy who has the means and the resources and the imagination to get himself smuggled out of a country in a box would have the brains to listen to some good reputation management and communication people. The sense I got from that press conference was really just him airing his grievances.

"My advice would be to do something about the Japanese criminal justice system that you complain so loudly about. Not everyone is fortunate enough to escape prison, but if he’s serious about it – and it’s not just an excuse – he’s got to make good on it. Partner with an organisation, put up money, come to the aid of other prisoners. He can make something good come from this. That’s the biggest part of restoring his reputation.”

Trudi Harris Dubon, founder of BeKnown, a London-based boutique public relations consultant:

“Ghosn needs to focus on being as factual and dispassionate as possible when communicating about his recent experience. We tend to listen more keenly to a cool head and reward them with our consideration. It was Ghosn’s lack of restraint that led him to make the cringe-worthy ‘Pearl Harbor’ comment.

"A spot of humility also wouldn’t go amiss. Humbleness has a tendency to disarm detractors and deploying it can often help turn a disaster into an opportunity.”

Jonathan Hemus, managing director of crisis management group Insignia, based near Birmingham, England:

“In a crisis, your strategic intent - being clear about what success looks like - should shape every subsequent decision and action. It appears that Carlos Ghosn’s strategic intent is to live the rest of his life as a free man and this single goal is driving his words and actions.

"In a crisis, there are no obviously right or wrong decisions. Instead you must consider then select the least bad option in a timely manner. Guided by his strategic intent, that’s exactly what Carlos Ghosn has done. His escape from Japan carried a high degree of risk and a significant downside, but it was better than the alternative of doing nothing.

"By calling a press conference, he grabbed the upper hand by communicating his version of events, thereby setting the agenda and leaving Japanese officials to react to his narrative. Ghosn will face further challenges over the coming months and years as he seeks to clear his name, but his actions and words so far suggest that if anyone can pull it off, he can. He is delivering a masterclass in crisis management.”

Rory Godson, chief executive of Powerscourt, a financial public relations firm:

“There is a way out but it needs determination, discipline and nerve. First, stop pre-litigating or re-litigating the facts of your case. People find it hard to be sympathetic to fabulously wealthy bosses complaining that other powerful people are conspiring against them. Comparing yourself to the defenders at Pearl Harbor is crass and offensive to Japanese and Americans.

"Instead, keep it really simple. Make the law the issue, not the facts of the indictment. Say the Japanese legal system makes it impossible to get a fair trial. Keep repeating it. Put the Japanese legal system on trial – it will make the Japanese less keen to make noise. Stop doing interviews and press conferences. The Beirut event was a mess. There isn’t a magic interview that gets you clear – ask Prince Andrew.”

Mark Worthington, co-founder and managing director of Klareco Communications in Singapore:

“If you’re embroiled in international legal issues and essentially are a fugitive, the odds are stacked against you. You should be thinking about self-preservation first and reputational rehabilitation second.

"In terms of crisis management, the most effective way of doing it isn’t going out there railing at authority. It’s about quietly having the right conversations to ensure the right context is being understood by the key people reporting on the issue. And I’m not sure that’s a fit with his personality or the infrastructure he has at his disposal.”

Richard Attias, founder of Richard Attias & Associates:

“The Ghosn brand is damaged. To restore it, the solution would be for him to ask for a fair trial in front of an impartial and objective court. In this way, he will not avoid justice and his rights will be respected.”

Jason Stein, a director of Finsbury, who formerly worked as an adviser to Prince Andrew but departed ahead of his his appearance on BBC’s Newsnight:

“Ghosn’s prospects for rehabilitation seem limited, and at this stage damage limitation is his best way forward. Nonetheless, if he continues to avoid trial, then he has just two very small shots at a partial rehabilitation in the eyes of the world.

"First, he or his team of lawyers produce credible evidence of wrongdoing by the Japanese that conclusively exonerates him. Failing that, Ghosn could choose to use his vast wealth to get to grips with some of the challenging societal issues in the new neighborhood he calls home.

"Unlike Japan, which has an older population, nearly one in four of Lebanon’s population is aged 0-14. By investing heavily in upgrading education, Ghosn can at least use his resources to try and reinvent himself at home as a philanthropist investing in the country and good causes.”

Emma Kane, chief executive of Newgate Communications in London:

“Ghosn should accept that his reputation as a global industrial stalwart has changed. For some former business leaders, who may already have their legacies mapped out in their minds, that can be difficult, but it’s essential for the long-term.

"Ghosn should look ahead, take time to reflect and start setting up a platform to re-establish as an industrial thought-leader and bring his multi-cultural, multi-discipline management philosophy to the world’s boardrooms. Timing, though, is everything.”

Takashi Inoue, chief executive of Inoue Public Relations in Tokyo:

“It was appropriate for Ghosn to criticise the Japanese prosecution system, from the standpoint of a foreigner. I have no objection to this because this is the key reason why he left Japan. But he still needs to answer the allegations.

"I advise him to be as objective as possible by providing facts and be less emotional. It may be hard to salvage his reputation in Japan - they are closely linked to government offices and to prosecutors.”

Davia Temin, founder of crisis consultancy Temin and Co in New York:

“The world does love an anti-hero. The world does love someone who bucks rules and regulations – if they’re a romantic figure. He has made himself into quite a romantic figure. As tempting as is it to tell his story, more and more, the risk now isn’t just that he will sour public support, but that he will do something to make himself a further target.

"He’s one man who is basically fighting a sovereign nation, and their judicial system, their ways of doing business, their way of life. That’s a heavy burden to have taken on. He’s done what he felt he needed to do. I would imagine he’s been in reaction mode up to now – it’s either fight or flight, and he’s done both.

"He’s not just re-establishing his reputation, he’s re-establishing his life. It’s really life first, then reputation. Now that he’s not under house arrest, it’s probably better to do some deep contemplation and maybe go from the spy novel to the philosophical novel.”

Mark Flanagan, chief executive of Portland Communications and former head of strategic communications at 10 Downing Street:

“It is possible for Ghosn to elicit sympathy but I don’t believe he can completely rebuild his reputation. By continuing to highlight the harshness of the Japanese judicial system he could turn attention away from the allegations surrounding himself and onto the risks for westerners and western companies doing business in Japan.

"However, the allegations themselves are very serious and the colour surrounding Ghosn’s behavior, such as the Versailles party, is so deeply unhelpful that it is inconceivable that he could return to anything like his previous status in the corporate world. Running away doesn’t help either, in terms of his reputation.

"He will forever be more famous for escaping Japan in a box than for running a global motor manufacturing company.”

David Rigg, founder of Project Associates, who represented Martin Sorrell after he quit as WPP chief executive in 2018:

“I think it’s beyond repair, frankly, and his best bet is to write a book, sell the television rights and have a happy life in Lebanon.”

Tips%20for%20holiday%20homeowners
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The specs
 
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW

Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman

Director: Jesse Armstrong

Rating: 3.5/5

Various Artists 
Habibi Funk: An Eclectic Selection Of Music From The Arab World (Habibi Funk)
​​​​​​​

Banthology: Stories from Unwanted Nations
Edited by Sarah Cleave, Comma Press

The specs: 2018 BMW R nineT Scrambler

Price, base / as tested Dh57,000

Engine 1,170cc air/oil-cooled flat twin four-stroke engine

Transmission Six-speed gearbox

Power 110hp) @ 7,750rpm

Torque 116Nm @ 6,000rpm

Fuel economy, combined 5.3L / 100km

GAC GS8 Specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh149,900

In 2018, the ICRC received 27,756 trace requests in the Middle East alone. The global total was 45,507.

 

There are 139,018 global trace requests that have not been resolved yet, 55,672 of these are in the Middle East region.

 

More than 540,000 individuals approached the ICRC in the Middle East asking to be reunited with missing loved ones in 2018.

 

The total figure for the entire world was 654,000 in 2018.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The%20specs
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MATCH INFO

Manchester United 1 (Rashford 36')

Liverpool 1 (Lallana 84')

Man of the match: Marcus Rashford (Manchester United)

The Sky Is Pink

Director: Shonali Bose

Cast: Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Farhan Akhtar, Zaira Wasim, Rohit Saraf

Three stars

Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.

Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.

Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.

“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.

Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.

From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.

Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.

BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.

Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.

Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.

“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.

“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.

“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”

Volunteers offer workers a lifeline

Community volunteers have swung into action delivering food packages and toiletries to the men.

When provisions are distributed, the men line up in long queues for packets of rice, flour, sugar, salt, pulses, milk, biscuits, shaving kits, soap and telecom cards.

Volunteers from St Mary’s Catholic Church said some workers came to the church to pray for their families and ask for assistance.

Boxes packed with essential food items were distributed to workers in the Dubai Investments Park and Ras Al Khaimah camps last week. Workers at the Sonapur camp asked for Dh1,600 towards their gas bill.

“Especially in this year of tolerance we consider ourselves privileged to be able to lend a helping hand to our needy brothers in the Actco camp," Father Lennie Connully, parish priest of St Mary’s.

Workers spoke of their helplessness, seeing children’s marriages cancelled because of lack of money going home. Others told of their misery of being unable to return home when a parent died.

“More than daily food, they are worried about not sending money home for their family,” said Kusum Dutta, a volunteer who works with the Indian consulate.

ULTRA PROCESSED FOODS

- Carbonated drinks, sweet or savoury packaged snacks, confectionery, mass-produced packaged breads and buns 

- margarines and spreads; cookies, biscuits, pastries, cakes, and cake mixes, breakfast cereals, cereal and energy bars;

- energy drinks, milk drinks, fruit yoghurts and fruit drinks, cocoa drinks, meat and chicken extracts and instant sauces

- infant formulas and follow-on milks, health and slimming products such as powdered or fortified meal and dish substitutes,

- many ready-to-heat products including pre-prepared pies and pasta and pizza dishes, poultry and fish nuggets and sticks, sausages, burgers, hot dogs, and other reconstituted meat products, powdered and packaged instant soups, noodles and desserts.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
How to vote in the UAE

1) Download your ballot https://www.fvap.gov/

2) Take it to the US Embassy

3) Deadline is October 15

4) The embassy will ensure all ballots reach the US in time for the November 3 poll

Company%20profile
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Defence review at a glance

• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”

• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems

• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.

• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%

• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade

• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels

Honeymoonish
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Europe’s rearming plan
  • Suspend strict budget rules to allow member countries to step up defence spending
  • Create new "instrument" providing €150 billion of loans to member countries for defence investment
  • Use the existing EU budget to direct more funds towards defence-related investment
  • Engage the bloc's European Investment Bank to drop limits on lending to defence firms
  • Create a savings and investments union to help companies access capital
LILO & STITCH

Starring: Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Maia Kealoha, Chris Sanders

Director: Dean Fleischer Camp

Rating: 4.5/5

It Was Just an Accident

Director: Jafar Panahi

Stars: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr

Rating: 4/5

Uefa Nations League: How it works

The Uefa Nations League, introduced last year, has reached its final stage, to be played over five days in northern Portugal. The format of its closing tournament is compact, spread over two semi-finals, with the first, Portugal versus Switzerland in Porto on Wednesday evening, and the second, England against the Netherlands, in Guimaraes, on Thursday.

The winners of each semi will then meet at Porto’s Dragao stadium on Sunday, with the losing semi-finalists contesting a third-place play-off in Guimaraes earlier that day.

Qualifying for the final stage was via League A of the inaugural Nations League, in which the top 12 European countries according to Uefa's co-efficient seeding system were divided into four groups, the teams playing each other twice between September and November. Portugal, who finished above Italy and Poland, successfully bid to host the finals.

Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance: the specs

Engine: 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 plus rear-mounted electric motor

Power: 843hp at N/A rpm

Torque: 1470Nm N/A rpm

Transmission: 9-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 8.6L/100km

On sale: October to December

Price: From Dh875,000 (estimate)

The specs

AT4 Ultimate, as tested

Engine: 6.2-litre V8

Power: 420hp

Torque: 623Nm

Transmission: 10-speed automatic

Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)

On sale: Now

The specs

Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel

Power: 579hp

Torque: 859Nm

Transmission: Single-speed automatic

Price: From Dh825,900

On sale: Now

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE v Gibraltar

What: International friendly

When: 7pm kick off

Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City

Admission: Free

Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page

UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)

COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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Business Insights
  • As per the document, there are six filing options, including choosing to report on a realisation basis and transitional rules for pre-tax period gains or losses. 
  • SMEs with revenue below Dh3 million per annum can opt for transitional relief until 2026, treating them as having no taxable income. 
  • Larger entities have specific provisions for asset and liability movements, business restructuring, and handling foreign permanent establishments.
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THE BIO

Favourite place to go to in the UAE: The desert sand dunes, just after some rain

Who inspires you: Anybody with new and smart ideas, challenging questions, an open mind and a positive attitude

Where would you like to retire: Most probably in my home country, Hungary, but with frequent returns to the UAE

Favorite book: A book by Transilvanian author, Albert Wass, entitled ‘Sword and Reap’ (Kard es Kasza) - not really known internationally

Favourite subjects in school: Mathematics and science

The Byblos iftar in numbers

29 or 30 days – the number of iftar services held during the holy month

50 staff members required to prepare an iftar

200 to 350 the number of people served iftar nightly

160 litres of the traditional Ramadan drink, jalab, is served in total

500 litres of soup is served during the holy month

200 kilograms of meat is used for various dishes

350 kilograms of onion is used in dishes

5 minutes – the average time that staff have to eat
 

RESULTS

1.45pm: Maiden Dh75,000 1,400m
Winner: Dirilis Ertugrul, Fabrice Veron (jockey), Ismail Mohammed (trainer)
2.15pm: Handicap Dh90,000 1,400m
Winner: Kidd Malibu, Sandro Paiva, Musabah Al Muhairi
2.45pm: Maiden Dh75,000 1,000m
Winner: Raakezz, Tadhg O’Shea, Nicholas Bachalard
3.15pm: Handicap Dh105,000 1,200m
Winner: Au Couer, Sean Kirrane, Satish Seemar
3.45pm: Maiden Dh75,000 1,600m
Winner: Rayig, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson
4.15pm: Handicap Dh105,000 1,600m
Winner: Chiefdom, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer
4.45pm: Handicap Dh80,000 1,800m
Winner: King’s Shadow, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar

Company profile

Date started: 2015

Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki

Based: Dubai

Sector: Online grocery delivery

Staff: 200

Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends

Monster

Directed by: Anthony Mandler

Starring: Kelvin Harrison Jr., John David Washington 

3/5

 

Key figures in the life of the fort

Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.

Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.

Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.

Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.

Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.

Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.

Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.

Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.

Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae

In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe

Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010

Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille

Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm

Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year

Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”

Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners

TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013 

VEZEETA PROFILE

Date started: 2012

Founder: Amir Barsoum

Based: Dubai, UAE

Sector: HealthTech / MedTech

Size: 300 employees

Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)

Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC