Nissan Announces Senior Leadership Changes in Americas Region

FRANKLIN, Tenn., June 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Nissan today announced changes in senior leadership at Nissan Canada, Inc. (NCI), within Sales & Marketing and Communications, at Nissan Motor Acceptance Corporation (NMAC) and at Nissan Brazil (NBA).  All changes are effective July 1 unless otherwise stated.

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Management Committee – Americas

• After a distinguished 26-year career at Nissan, Mark Grimm, president, NCI, will retire from the company.  During his Nissan tenure, Grimm held a variety of sales management positions.  Most recently, he has led the NCI team in building market share and expanding its dealer network through strategic growth, resulting in three consecutive years of record market share.
• Allen Childs, vice president, Parts & Service, will succeed Grimm as president of NCI and a member of the Management Committee – Americas (MC-A).  In his new role, Childs will take on responsibility for all aspects of Nissan's operations in Canada.  Since joining Nissan in 1990 as a regional operations manager, Childs has held positions of increasing responsibility in Sales & Marketing, including vice president, Sales & Marketing at NCI and regional vice president, Nissan.  He holds a bachelor's degree in marketing from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

"Mark has made a significant contribution to sales and marketing within Nissan and we wish him our very best for a happy and healthy retirement," said Carlos Tavares, chairman, MC-A.  "As Allen assumes responsibility for Nissan in Canada we have high confidence that he will lead that team to continuous growth in the market."

Sales & Marketing – North America

• John Spoon, regional vice president for Nissan's Central region, is named vice president, Parts & Service, succeeding Childs.  In his new assignment, Spoon will report to Brian Carolin, senior vice president, Sales & Marketing, and will be responsible for sales and marketing activities in support of base parts, accessories and specialty vehicles, as well as oversight of Nissan's interface with dealership service operations.  Spoon joined Nissan in 1987 and, since then, has advanced through various sales and marketing assignments.
• Patrick Steiner, director, Specialty Vehicles & Accessories, is named regional vice president for Nissan's Central region, succeeding Spoon and reporting to Al Castignetti, vice president, Nissan Sales Division.  In his new assignment, Steiner will have responsibility for the overall regional operations including dealer relations, sales and marketing activities, fixed operations and administration.  Steiner began his Nissan career in 1985 as a Denver-based technical trainer. Since then, he has held key sales, service and marketing management positions, supporting both the Infiniti and Nissan brand.
• Succeeding Steiner as director, Specialty Vehicles & Accessories, is Nat Mason, currently senior manager, Specialty Vehicle Planning.  In his new assignment, Mason will report to Spoon and oversee product concept creation, including target customer identification, as well as customer needs definition, profit forecast and product unique selling points for Specialty Vehicles and accessory parts sales and marketing in North America.  Steiner joined Nissan from Ford Motor Company in 2007.

"The appointment of John, Patrick, and Nat to their new roles is a great example of Nissan drawing on the depth of talent that exists within our organization," said Carolin.  "Each of these individuals is well prepared for their new challenge and will ensure a smooth transition for the brand."

Communications

• Effective immediately, David Reuter, director, Corporate Communications, is named senior director, Corporate Communications – Nissan Americas, reporting to Tavares.  In this role, in addition to being responsible for Corporate Communications and media relations, Reuter will ensure oversight and alignment across Product and Internal Communications and coordinate the operations of the Communications departments across the Americas.
• Scott Stevens, vice president, Corporate Communications, has elected to leave Nissan to pursue opportunities outside the company.

"We wish Scott the best as he begins the next chapter in his career and welcome David to his new responsibilities," said Tavares.  "David's global automotive experience in Asia, Europe and the Americas will pay dividends as he oversees the Communications team across Nissan Americas' diverse portfolio."

Nissan Motor Acceptance Corporation

• Tom Lyons, director, NMAC Financial Products, will take on the role of director, NMAC Dealer Services, reporting to Jeff Edwards.  In this assignment, Lyons will have responsibility for NMAC Consumer Credit and Risk, Contract Processing, and Dealer Assistance Unit.  Lyons has been with Nissan since 1988. During his Nissan tenure, he has held a variety of positions within NMAC, including roles associated with NMAC Sales & Remarketing, Consumer Credit, Corporate Planning and Marketing & Pricing.
• James Morton, currently vice president, Administration & Finance for NCI, will succeed Lyons as director, NMAC Financial Products.  In his new assignment, Morton will report to Mike McConnell, vice president, Sales, Financial Products and Corporate Planning Office, and will become a member of the NMAC Operating Committee and leader of the NMAC Pricing Committee.  Morton joined Nissan North America from Nissan Europe in 2006 and previously was controller, Corporate Finance – NNA.
• Jay Cook is named director, Finance for NCI, taking on the responsibilities previously managed by Morton and reporting jointly to Jett Johns, vice president, Finance, and Childs. Cook is currently completing a foreign-service assignment at Nissan Motor, Ltd. in Yokohama, Japan, as senior manager, Executive Reporting.  Since he joined Nissan in 2005, Cook has held finance management positions supporting Manufacturing, Supply Chain Management and Sales & Marketing.  The effective date of Cook's transition will be announced soon.

"These leadership changes will strengthen Nissan's already diverse Finance team," said Scott Becker, senior vice president, Administration & Finance. "Tom, James and Jay each bring a unique perspective to their roles which will serve them greatly in furthering Nissan's Finance capabilities."

Nissan Brazil

• Gerardo de la Torre, director, NMEX Logistics, is named vice president, Monozukuri, for NBA, reporting to Christian Meunier, president, NBA.  In this newly created position, de la Torre will be responsible for oversight and coordination of Supply Chain Management, Purchasing, Manufacturing, Total Customer Satisfaction and R&D.  De la Torre joined Nissan in 1989 as a supervisor at NMEX's Aguascalientes manufacturing plant.

"Gerardo's appointment is the next step in Nissan's efforts to strengthen our operational capabilities in Brazil," said Christian Meunier, president, NBA.  "His extensive experience in the manufacturing and supply chain management side of our business will pay dividends as he begins his new assignment."

In North America, Nissan's operations include automotive design, engineering, consumer and corporate financing, sales and marketing, distribution and manufacturing.  Nissan is dedicated to improving the environment under the Nissan Green Program 2010, whose key priorities are reducing CO2 emissions, cutting other emissions and increasing recycling.  More information on Nissan in North America and the complete line of Nissan and Infiniti vehicles can be found online at www.NissanUSA.com and www.infinitiUSA.com.

SOURCE Nissan North America