Dan Bedore Named Director, Product Communications, Nissan Americas

FRANKLIN, Tenn., June 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Nissan Americas today announced that Dan Bedore has been named director, Product Communications, effective June 13.  Most recently Bedore was senior group manager, Social Media and Regional Public Relations for Hyundai Motor America, where he was responsible for social media engagement and public relations for the Hyundai brand including at the Hyundai America Technical Center in the Detroit area.

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In his new role, Bedore will be responsible for leading Nissan Americas' product communications throughout North, Central and South America.  He and his team will support new product launches, auto shows and major events, and continuing communications across the Nissan and Infiniti product lineups.  He will be based at Nissan Americas headquarters in Franklin, Tenn.

"We are excited to welcome Dan Bedore to Nissan," said David Reuter, vice president, Corporate Communications, Nissan Americas.  "As our Nissan and Infiniti product ranges mature further, we have a tremendous opportunity to unlock the full potential of our product communications. We expect Dan's cross-functional experience in the channels of PR, marketing and social media to pay significant dividends for Nissan's communications efforts."

Bedore, 44, brings more than 16 years of corporate and agency communications experience to his new assignment. Prior to joining Nissan he spent nearly four years at Hyundai Motor America with a broad list of responsibilities, including integrating communications across marketing, PR and engineering.

Bedore's business career began in 1990 as co-owner of a national auto service franchise.  He worked as a freelance reporter in 1994 at The Ann Arbor News in Ann Arbor, Mich.  In 1995 he transitioned to a career in automotive communications when he joined Ford Motor Company as a communications associate at Ford Division.  Over the next 12 years Bedore progressed through a series of positions of increasing importance at Ford, including leading the Product Launch and Auto Shows PR function, managing North America Product Development PR, running Ford Division Communications and serving as the company's Midwest and Mid-Atlantic communications manager.

Bedore holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, Mich., and is a member of the board of directors of the Automotive Press Association in Detroit.

About Nissan Americas

In the Americas, Nissan's operations include automotive styling, engineering, consumer and corporate financing, sales and marketing, distribution and manufacturing. Nissan is dedicated to improving the environment under the Nissan Green Program and was recognized as an ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 2010 and 2011. More information, including photos and video b-roll, on Nissan in North America, the Nissan LEAF and zero emissions can be found at www.nissanusa.com.

About Nissan

Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Japan's second largest Japanese automotive company by volume, is headquartered in Yokohama, Japan and is an integral pillar of the Renault-Nissan Alliance. Operating with more than 150,000 employees globally, Nissan provided customers with more than 4 million vehicles in 2010. With a strong commitment to developing exciting and innovative products for all, Nissan delivers a comprehensive range of fuel-efficient and low-emissions vehicles under the Nissan and Infiniti brands. A pioneer in zero emission mobility, Nissan made history with the introduction of the Nissan LEAF, the first affordable, mass-market, pure-electric vehicle and winner of numerous international accolades including the prestigious 2011 European Car of the Year award.

SOURCE Nissan North America