Nissan Announces Senior Management Appointments

YOKOHAMA, Japan – Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. today announced several key appointments and changes designed to enhance operational efficiency across the Group.

Nissan President and CEO Carlos Ghosn said: “Our new management line-up and regional organization will ensure the company has the executive team in place to deliver the profitable growth expected from the Nissan Power 88 mid-term plan. We have brought forward these planned changes to ensure Nissan preserves its leadership status in automotive innovation, product development and its global market growth - all underpinned by relentless financial discipline."

• Toshiyuki Shiga, chief operating officer is named as vice-chairman of the company and takes responsibility for external affairs, asset management and corporate governance. Shiga remains as a representative director. The office and functions of the COO will be reorganized, with three senior executives assuming new front-line roles:

• Hiroto Saikawa, chief competitive officer (CCO), continues in his role leading global purchasing, manufacturing, supply chain management, R&D, and total customer satisfaction. In his role as the number two executive in the company, he will now chair the Operations Committee and will head the China region.

• Andy Palmer, executive vice president, planning and marketing communications, is named chief planning officer (CPLO) and in addition to his current responsibilities will be in charge of Zero Emission Vehicle planning & strategy, global battery business unit and global sales. Palmer will report to Ghosn.

• Trevor Mann, executive vice president and chairman of the Africa, Middle East, India and Europe region is named chief performance officer (CPO). In addition to his new responsibility for running Nissan's regional operations, Mann will also lead Datsun, as well as the light commercial vehicle and the global aftersales business units.

• Colin Dodge, currently executive vice president and CPO, will transition to a new role managing special projects and reporting directly to Ghosn; he remains a director.

• Kimiyasu Nakamura, currently President of Dongfeng Motor Company, is appointed to a new position at the level of the Executive Committee, reporting directly to Saikawa, with company-wide responsibility for the total customer satisfaction function.

Nissan also announced changes to its current three-region structure which by January 1, 2014 will comprise six regions. North and South America will be made two separate regional operations led respectively by Jose Munoz, currently Nissan Americas senior vice president – sales & marketing, customer quality and dealer network development, and Jose Valls, currently Nissan Mexicana president and managing director. Munoz will also become a Nissan Motor Co. executive vice president. 

• Takao Katagiri will assume the responsibility for the Japan-ASEAN region in addition to his role leading sales and marketing in Japan.

Further appointments will be announced in the coming weeks for the European (including Russia) and with the new Africa, Middle East and India regions.

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