US – The appointments, effective from April 1, range across production and engineering; R&D; customer satisfaction; marketing and sales; communications; and legal matters. Most of the roles relate to Nissan’s Franklin site, Tennessee.
José Muñoz, chief performance officer and chairman, management committee – North America, Nissan Motor Company, said that the changes would help the OEM to maintain “momentum” as it prepares to launch a new mid-term plan. Nissan is completing its existing ‘Power 88’ plan.
Mark Swenson, currently vice-president (VP), Manufacturing Production Engineering, will become VP, Total Customer Satisfaction, as a replacement for Takehiro Terai, who will return to Nissan Motor. Swenson will be replaced by David Johnson, director, New Model and Central Engineering at Nissan Motor UK, who will return to Nissan North America (NNA) to take the role at Smyrna, Tennessee.
Gary Edwards, VP, Powertrain and Battery Plant, will retire on July 31 after 34 years at NNA. Brian Sullivan will fill the role in Decherd, Tennessee, moving from his position as director, plant manager NNA Battery Plant. Jeff Deaton, currently director, Manufacturing Engineering Smyrna, will replace Sullivan.
In R&D, Takeshi Yamaguchi, chief vehicle engineer, Nissan Product Development Division No.2, will become senior VP, R&D, NTCNA, in place of Kunio Nakaguro, who will return to Nissan Motor as corporate VP, Nissan Product Development No.1.
