Ghosn Fallout – Nissan Changes American Senior Management

Posted on 22 March 2019 by Ken Zino
AutoInformed.com

It’s going to be interesting watching Ghosn standing in front of a Japanese court.

Nissan in North America is changing leadership positions in R&D, Marketing and Sales Finance functions as part of the aftermath of the Ghosn scandal. The future of the so-called alliance of Nissan, Renault and Mitsubishi is in question since November when Ghosn, then chairman of all three companies, was in Japan.

Japanese prosecutors have accused him of hiding his compensation and shifting personal investment losses to Nissan’s books. Ghosn denying the charges, claims Nissan executives who opposed closer ties to Renault went to Japanese authorities with false charges. Adding to the intrigue, Ghosn remains on the Board of Directors at all three companies.

The Ghosn matter is far from over. Not only is his reputation besmirched, but Japanese corporate governance and so-called Japanese judicial practices are under scrutiny for their questionable aspects. The future of the Alliance remains in question. The latest moves follow:

In North America Chris Reed, vice president, Platform and Technology Engineering, is promoted to the role of senior vice president, Research and Development, Nissan Technical Center North America (NTCNA). Reed replaces Takeshi Yamaguchi, who was named corporate vice president and Alliance global vice president, Customer Performance & Computer Aided Engineering / Test Engineering.

Masami Honma, general manager, Body Engineering, Nissan Motor Co. is joining NTCNA as vice president, Platform and Technology Engineering, replacing Reed.

Allyson Witherspoon, general manager, Global Brand Engagement returns to North America and is promoted to vice president, Nissan Marketing Communications & Media. Witherspoon replaces Jeremy Tucker who has elected to leave Nissan to pursue other opportunities.

Shishir Bhushan, managing director, Nissan Renault Financial Services India, is named vice president, Operations, Nissan Motor Acceptance Corporation.

Steve Milette, currently regional vice president, Nissan Canada, Inc. (NCI) is promoted to president, NCI. He replaces Joni Paiva, who will become regional vice president, Marketing and Sales, for Nissan’s Africa, Middle East and India (AMI) region.

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About Ken Zino

Ken Zino, publisher (kzhw@aol.com), 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. Zino is at home on test tracks, knows his way around U.S. Congressional hearing rooms, auto company headquarters, plant floors, as well as industry research and development labs where the real mobility work is done. He can quote from court decisions, refer to instrumented road tests, analyze financial results, and profile executive personalities and corporate cultures. 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 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.
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One Response to Ghosn Fallout – Nissan Changes American Senior Management

  1. Pingback: Ghosn Shakeout is Ongoing as Thierry Bolloré, CEO Renault SA, is Fired by the Board of Directors | AutoInformed

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