Nissan this week announced changes to its senior management team globally, introducing a renewed leadership line-up to achieve the company’s short- and mid-term objectives while positioning it for long-term growth.
Ivan Espinosa, currently Nissan’s chief planning officer, has been appointed president and CEO, succeeding Makoto Uchida. The change comes into effect on April 1st.
Espinosa has been employed by Nissan since 2003. After spells working in locations such as Thailand and his home country of Mexico, he joined the team at Nissan’s global headquarters in Japan in 2016, where he held several leadership roles before being appointed to his current position last year.
Uchida steps down after five-and-a-half years at the helm and in doing so, paid tribute to his successor who he described as ‘a real car guy’.
Nissan also announced significant changes to its executive committee, whose members will report to Espinosa.
Guillaume Cartier, chief performance officer and chairperson of the Management Committee for AMIEO, will have an expanded role that includes global marketing and customer experience.
Eiichi Akashi, currently corporate vice president (CVP) of the Vehicle Planning and Vehicle Component Engineering Division, will become chief technology officer and executive officer, succeeding Kunio Nakaguro.
Teiji Hirata, currently CVP of the Vehicle Production Engineering and Development Division, will take on the role of chief monozukuri officer and executive officer, responsible for manufacturing and supply chain management, succeeding Hideyuki Sakamoto.
Jeremie Papin, chief financial officer, is also appointed executive officer. Stephen Ma, chairperson of the Management Committee for China; Mitsuro Antoku, chief quality officer; and Toru Ihara, chief HR officer, will continue in their current roles.
A number of other key management appointments and departures were announced in the reshuffle.
Uchida and Sakamoto will retain their directorships until this year’s shareholders’ AGM in June.