Renault names Pelata second in command to CEO Ghosn

French carmaker Renault named Patrick Pelata chief operating officer, making him secondin the line of command behind President and Chief ExecutiveCarlos Ghosn.



Pelata, who takes up the role on Monday, is a former head ofstrategy who had been put in charge of European operations onlya few weeks ago and also worked with Ghosn at Nissan Motor(7201.T: Quote, , Research, ) in Japan.



Pelata was a key figure during the acquisition of a largeminority stake in AvtoVAZ (AVAZ.MM: Quote, , Research, ) of Russia.



'Through his significant knowledge of Renault, through thequality of our relationship, and through his involvement inRenault Commitment 2009, he has the right experience and all myconfidence to succeed in this new position,' Ghosn said in astatement on Friday.



A spokeswoman said Pelata would be in charge of theoperational business and Ghosn of strategy, budget, mergers &acquisitions and alliances.



She added that Ghosn had planned the move a long time ago.



The new structure at Renault mirrors that at Nissan whereToshiyuki Shinga is chief operating officer, next to Ghosn.



Pelata was born on Aug. 24, 1955, and holds engineeringdegrees. He joined Renault in 1984 as a manager at the Flinsplant and in 1999 he joined Nissan in Tokyo.