Nissan Shifts Leadership In North America To Optimize Performance

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Nov. 22, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- In a move to enhance performance across key areas within its North American operations, Nissan today announced a number of leadership changes effective Dec. 1, unless otherwise noted.

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"These moves will help us achieve the objectives of Nissan's Power 88 mid-term business plan in the newly announced North America region. The Nissan team is continuing to strengthen its focus on ensuring high product quality and customer satisfaction while improving both brand and franchise value with our dealer network," said Jose Munoz, who recently was named chairman of Nissan North America (NNA), effective Jan. 1.

Fred Diaz, currently divisional vice president, Sales & Marketing, Parts & Service, Nissan U.S.A., is appointed senior vice president, Sales & Marketing, Parts & Service, U.S.A., effective Jan. 1. Diaz will report to Munoz, and his current position will not be replaced.

Airton Cousseau, currently regional vice president, Nissan Mexicana (NMEX), is promoted to managing director, NMEX, succeeding Jose Valls who recently was promoted to chairman of Latin America and Brazil. Cousseau will assume his role on Jan. 1, and will report to Munoz.

Jon Brancheau, currently vice president, Nissan Marketing, fills the newly created position of vice president, Nissan Marketing Communications & Media, reporting to Diaz.

Dan Mohnke, currently director, Marketing Operations, is promoted to the newly created position of vice president, Nissan Chief Marketing Manager (CMM) & Marketing Operations, reporting to Diaz.

Scott Shirley, currently director, CMM, succeeds Dan Mohnke as director, Marketing Operations, and will report to Mohnke.

Phil O'Connor, currently senior manager, Marketing Media, is promoted to director, CMM, succeeding Shirley and reporting to Mohnke.

Mayra Gonzalez, currently director, Customer Quality and Dealer Network Development (CQ & DND) Strategy, succeeds Cousseau as regional vice president, NMEX, effective Jan. 1. In this role, she reports to Cousseau, and her current responsibilities within CQ/DND report to Leon Dorssers, vice president, CQ/DND.

Matt Burhart, currently director, Nissan Sales Operations, becomes director, Light Commercial Vehicles (LCV) Sales & Marketing, reporting to Joe Castelli, Vice President, LCV.

Anne Corrao, currently director, CQ & DND, succeeds Matt Burhart as director, Nissan Sales Operations, effective Jan. 1. She will report to Diaz.

Jose Luis Montiel, currently director, Infiniti Operations, NMEX and Nissan Latin America and the Caribbean (NLAC), becomes director, CQ & DND, NLAC, reporting to Dorssers and Jose Roman, vice president & managing director, NLAC.

Paul O'Brien, currently senior manager, Human Resources Business Partner, Smyrna Manufacturing, is promoted to director, Human Resources, R&D, Total Customer Satisfaction, Manufacturing Engineering and Purchasing position reporting to Mark Stout, vice president, Human Resources and Carla Bailo, senior vice president, R&D.

Additionally, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. announced the following senior management appointments earlier today:

Bill Krueger, currently senior vice president, Manufacturing, Supply Chain Management (SCM) and Purchasing, NNA, is appointed executive vice president of Nissan subsidiary, JATCO (Japanese Automatic Transmission Company), in charge of the Americas region.

John Martin, currently senior vice president, Manufacturing, Purchasing & SCM—Europe, assumes the role of senior vice president, Manufacturing, SCM and Purchasing, NNA, replacing Krueger. Martin will be based in Nashville, Tenn., and will report to Munoz.

About Nissan North America

In North America, 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 has been recognized as an ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 by the U.S Environmental Protection Agency. 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, or visit the Americas media sites NissanNews.com and InfinitiNews.com.

About Nissan

Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Japan's second-largest automotive company, is headquartered in Yokohama, Japan, and is part of the Renault-Nissan Alliance. Operating with more than 236,000 employees globally, Nissan sold more than 4.9 million vehicles and generated revenue of 9.6 trillion yen (USD 116.16 billion) in fiscal 2012. Nissan delivers a comprehensive range of over 60 models under the Nissan and Infiniti brands. In 2010, Nissan introduced the Nissan LEAF, and continues to lead in zero-emission mobility. The LEAF, the first mass-market, pure-electric vehicle launched globally, is now the best-selling EV in history.

For more information on our products, services and commitment to sustainable mobility, visit our website at http://www.nissan-global.com/EN/.

SOURCE Nissan North America