Nissan North America said today it has named Vinay Shahani as senior vice president, US Marketing and Sales. His appointment is effective 18 January. Shahani was Vice President of Marketing, Lexus USA. Shahani replaces Mike Colleran, who is retiring from Nissan on 31 March, after more than 12 years in top regional and global positions.
“As we accelerate the transformation we started with Nissan NEXT, Vinay brings a unique blend of Nissan background and experience with successful global automotive brands,” said Jérémie Papin, chairperson, Nissan Americas. “Vinay is an ideal choice to lead our brands into the future, driving performance and innovation while maintaining our people-centric culture.”
Shahani Career
- 2021-2024: Vice President of Marketing, Lexus USA
- 2017-2021: Vice President, Integrated Marketing Operations, Toyota North America
- 2013-2017: Senior Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer, Volkswagen of America
Shahani’s work includes nearly decade at Nissan North America. After starting in a job as an engineering manager at the Smyrna Vehicle Assembly Plant in 2004, he moved into a managerial role within the company’s marketing and sales function. From there, he held roles of increasing responsibility in sales operations; aftersales; product marketing; field sales; and marketing communications and media.
Mike Colleran joined Nissan in 2011 as vice president of Sales for Nissan Canada, and then moved to oversee Nissan’s Northeast region in the US. He also held leadership positions overseeing the Infiniti brand, first as group vice president for INFINITI Americas, and then as global divisional vice president and vice chairman for Infiniti Motor Company, Ltd. He returned to the U.S. as senior vice president, US Marketing and Sales in 2020, to implement the Nissan NEXT transformation.
“Mike Colleran has been instrumental in our Nissan NEXT transformation, providing strong and steady leadership inside the company while rebuilding the critical relationships with our US dealer network,” said Papin. “Mike has led Nissan and Infiniti through challenging times, and he has our utmost gratitude as he moves onto a well-deserved retirement.”
AutoInformed on
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
Lexus Defection – Vinay Shahani Goes to Nissan North America
Nissan North America said today it has named Vinay Shahani as senior vice president, US Marketing and Sales. His appointment is effective 18 January. Shahani was Vice President of Marketing, Lexus USA. Shahani replaces Mike Colleran, who is retiring from Nissan on 31 March, after more than 12 years in top regional and global positions.
“As we accelerate the transformation we started with Nissan NEXT, Vinay brings a unique blend of Nissan background and experience with successful global automotive brands,” said Jérémie Papin, chairperson, Nissan Americas. “Vinay is an ideal choice to lead our brands into the future, driving performance and innovation while maintaining our people-centric culture.”
Shahani Career
Shahani’s work includes nearly decade at Nissan North America. After starting in a job as an engineering manager at the Smyrna Vehicle Assembly Plant in 2004, he moved into a managerial role within the company’s marketing and sales function. From there, he held roles of increasing responsibility in sales operations; aftersales; product marketing; field sales; and marketing communications and media.
Mike Colleran joined Nissan in 2011 as vice president of Sales for Nissan Canada, and then moved to oversee Nissan’s Northeast region in the US. He also held leadership positions overseeing the Infiniti brand, first as group vice president for INFINITI Americas, and then as global divisional vice president and vice chairman for Infiniti Motor Company, Ltd. He returned to the U.S. as senior vice president, US Marketing and Sales in 2020, to implement the Nissan NEXT transformation.
“Mike Colleran has been instrumental in our Nissan NEXT transformation, providing strong and steady leadership inside the company while rebuilding the critical relationships with our US dealer network,” said Papin. “Mike has led Nissan and Infiniti through challenging times, and he has our utmost gratitude as he moves onto a well-deserved retirement.”
AutoInformed on
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn. He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe. Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap. AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks. Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.