Nissan names Ivan Espinosa as CEO in leadership shakeup

Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. has announced a significant overhaul of its senior management, signaling a strategic shift aimed at bolstering both short-term performance and long-term growth. Ivan Espinosa, currently the chief planning officer, will step into the role of president and CEO on April 1st, replacing Makoto Uchida.

This leadership change comes alongside a sweeping restructuring of Nissan's Executive Committee, designed to streamline operations and enhance strategic focus. Key appointments include:

• Ivan Espinosa: Promoted to Representative Executive Officer, President, and CEO.
• Guillaume Cartier: Expands his role as Chief Performance Officer to include global marketing and customer experience.
• Eiichi Akashi: Appointed Chief Technology Officer, succeeding Kunio Nakaguro.
• Teiji Hirata: Takes on the role of Chief Monozukuri Officer, overseeing Manufacturing and Supply Chain Management.
• Jeremie Papin: Remains Chief Financial Officer and is also appointed Executive Officer.

The restructuring also sees changes in regional leadership and strategic roles, with Shohei Yamazaki taking on expanded responsibilities for Japan-ASEAN and Christian Meunier continuing to lead the Americas. Tatsuzo Tomita will assume R&D responsibilities and lead Total Delivered Cost (TdC) Transformation, while Manabu Sakane will head Strategy Acceleration.

This major shakeup is accompanied by the departure of several key executives, including Makoto Uchida, Kunio Nakaguro, Hideyuki Sakamoto, Asako Hoshino, and Hideaki Watanabe, who will step down from their current roles on March 31st.

"This significant leadership renewal reflects Nissan's commitment to achieving its strategic objectives and adapting to the rapidly evolving automotive landscape," stated a Nissan spokesperson. "The new leadership team is tasked with driving innovation, enhancing operational efficiency, and positioning Nissan for sustainable growth."

The company emphasized that the changes aim to improve decision-making processes and accelerate the implementation of its strategic plans. The new leadership will officially take their positions on April 1st, with Uchida and Sakamoto remaining as directors until the shareholder meeting in June. This major change indicates that Nissan is looking to make major changes to its business practices.