Nissan announces senior management changes for North America

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (March 16, 2022) – Nissan is making changes to the management team for North America as it strengthens momentum for its Nissan NEXT transformation plan and continues to build a stronger business and rapidly advance the future vision outlined in Nissan Ambition 2030.

The leadership changes, effective April 1, are in the areas of Marketing & Sales, Manufacturing and Supply Chain Management, Research and Development (R&D), 4R & Battery Business and Legal, Sustainability & External Affairs.

Jeff Pope, group vice president, INFINITI Americas, is named division vice president, Dealer Network Development & Customer Quality, Nissan & INFINITI, U.S. and Canada. He replaces David Kershaw who elected to retire from Nissan. Kershaw served in a variety of roles during his 32 years with Nissan, most recently in a critical leadership role as Nissan transformed its U.S. retail business.

Kim Less, director, Aftersales Supply Chain Management (SCM), is promoted to vice president, Aftersales, U.S. Less replaces Michael Soutter who is named corporate vice president, Global Aftersales, Nissan Motor Company, Japan.

Pope and Less will report to Mike Colleran, corporate vice president, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. (NML), and senior vice president, U.S. Marketing and Sales.

Tiago Castro, senior director, Sales & Marketing, Nissan Brazil, is named regional vice president, Nissan Midwest Region, replacing Craig Keeys who is promoted to group vice president, INFINITI Americas. Castro will report to Judy Wheeler, division vice president, Nissan U.S. Sales & Regional Operations. He will be based in Aurora, Illinois.

David Sliger, interim head of Nissan Canton Manufacturing Operations, is promoted to vice president, Manufacturing, Nissan Canton Vehicle Assembly Plant. Sliger will report to David Johnson, senior vice president, Manufacturing & Supply Chain Management, Nissan North America.

Yasuhiro Azuma, general manager, Infiniti segment Chief Vehicle Engineer and Technology Planning department, R&D, NML, is named vice president, Vehicle Program Engineering.

Hiroki Sasaki, vice president, R&D and External Affairs, Nissan China Investment Co., is named vice president, Platform & Technology Engineering.

Azuma-san and Sasaki-san will report to Chris Reed, regional senior vice president, R&D, Nissan Americas.

Kent O’Hara, senior vice president, Global Aftersales, Nissan Motor Company, Japan, returns to the U.S. in a newly created role of president, 4R Energy, U.S. O’Hara will have responsibility for building the fast-growing business opportunity to reuse, resell, refabricate and recycle electric vehicle batteries. This effort will enhance the overall competitiveness of Nissan’s EV business and bring new revenue streams for the company. He will report to Jérémie Papin, chairperson, Nissan Americas.

Jason Menges, director and assistant general counsel, Regulatory and Product Safety, is promoted to vice president and general counsel, Legal, North America. Menges will report to Andrew Tavi, regional senior vice president, Legal, Sustainability & External Affairs, Nissan Americas.