The embattled chief executive of Nissan, Hiroto Saikawa, said on Thursday that he had received higher compensation than he was entitled to, but denied any prior knowledge of the matter.

Speaking to local news media, Mr. Saikawa acknowledged that an internal Nissan investigation had discovered that he and other executives had received stock-linked compensation beyond the amount to which they were entitled. Mr. Saikawa received about $440,000 in excess compensation, according to NHK, the official Japanese broadcaster, which he blamed on a company error.

“I apologize for any concerns caused by this,” he said, according to NHK, “and I believe that the amount that is different from the original registration should be returned to the company. That is my intention.”

[Nissan’s earnings reveal the long ahead for the company.]

The acknowledgment is likely to draw comparisons to the furor over the compensation paid to Carlos Ghosn, Nissan’s former top boss and the onetime leader of the vast carmaking alliance between Nissan, Renault of France and Mitsubishi Motors of Japan. Japanese prosecutors have charged Mr. Ghosn with underreporting his own compensation, an accusation he has denied.