NINE employees from across Nissan’s UK entities are preparing for an incredible trip to Brazil in May where they will carry the Olympic Torch as it makes its way to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
The ‘Nissan Nine’, as they have been dubbed, were nominated for the honour by their colleagues in a competition run as part of Nissan’s role as official automotive partner of Games.
They were selected from nominees across the UK Nissan entities for going above and beyond, in their personal life, for displaying unbelievable spirit as they help others, overcoming adversity, work in their local community or support good causes.
Each will carry the Olympic flame for approximately 200 metres through the city of Belo Horizonte – the City of Beautiful Horizons – as part of its 95-day, 36,000km journey that will be seen by an estimated 90 percent of Brazil’s population.
Their stint as a torchbearer will be the highlight of an incredible five-day trip that will take in the sights of Rio and Belo Horizonte. Along the way, they will be accompanied and cheered on by a friend or loved one.
The Nissan Nine are:
Gillian Dixon, Parts Controller, NMUK
Ian Blackman, Quality Strategy Manager, NTCE (TCS)
Tony Lewis, Sales Director, NMGB
Carlos Sanjuan Pastoriza, Manufacturing staff, NMUK
Charles Lavington, Seat Engineer, NTCE
Maggie Orme, Purchasing Admin Officer, NTCE (Purchase)
Mark Coupe, Exterior Systems Senior Engineer, NTCE
Mark Pagett, Advanced Engineering Engineer, NTCE
Neil Balderson, Enginering Administration Senior Engineer, NTCE
Over the coming weeks, Nissan Insider will meet each of the torchbearers and share their uplifting stories.
Léonie Tapley, Partnerships Manager at NMGB, said: “When we were offered a number of places in the Rio 2016 Torch Relay by our colleagues in Nissan Brazil it was an opportunity we couldn’t pass up.
“Its often usual practice for large organisations to give these places to Executives. In line with our “Be the Heartbeat of Britain” campaign we wanted to ensure the places went to really deserving individuals and it not be work performance related so we invited our staff to nominate their colleagues who they felt best deserved to carry the torch.
“We were overwhelmed by the number of nominations we received and some of the stories that were shared.”
Léonie added: “I’ve been involved in planning the trip and I know the Nissan Nine are going to have an amazing, once-in-a-lifetime experience they will never forget and it will be a part of something which I’m sure will stay with them forever.
“Its great to have found these people who truly embody the “Heartbeat of Britain” amongst our Nissan family.”
