French Renault Executive Becomes AMC Chairman

The chairmanship of American Motors Corp. passed from American to French hands Friday with the installation of a top official of the auto maker Renault.

Pierre Semerena, 58, who had been Renault’s executive vice president, replaces Paul Tippett, 52, whose duties as AMC chairman had been gradually reduced over the past year.

Jose Dedeurwaerder, AMC’s president since 1982 and chief executive for more than a year, will remain the company’s top official. His duties were expanded to include chairman of the board’s executive committee, AMC said.

The Belgium-born Dedeurwaerder is expected to be given control of Renault’s auto operations outside France early next year while retaining the top office at AMC.

Renault rescued AMC under a 1979 agreement and owns 46.1% of the American company’s stock.

AMC’s setup is unlike those of many large U.S. corporations, where the chairman typically is the chief executive and the president is the chief of operations.

The top American at AMC will be Executive Vice President Joseph Cappy, 51, who on Friday was made chief operating officer.

Cappy, once the main marketing man at AMC, gained supervision of manufacturing and parts supply earlier this year. Now, the remaining operations also will report to him: engineering, product planning and styling.

The moves were decided Friday in New York by AMC’s board, which includes four present or former Renault executives plus two outside directors with ties to Renault.