Minions was the first franchise film to feature Chris Renaud as executive producer instead of director.
Renaud had co-directed the first Despicable Me with Pierre Coffin and then directed Despicable Me 2 with him. For the 2015 spin-off Minions, Pierre Coffin returned as director and shared directing duties with Kyle Balda, while Renaud moved into an executive-producer role.
That change is significant because Minions was the first film in the franchise where Renaud was not a director. The film focuses on the Minions’ history before Gru, following Kevin, Stuart, and Bob as they search for a new villain to serve and eventually encounter Scarlet Overkill.
A common mix-up is Despicable Me 3, which also lists Renaud as an executive producer rather than a director. However, Minions came first, preceding that 2017 sequel by two years. Renaud later returned to direct Despicable Me 4.