- ALEX SMITH IS APPOINTED MANAGING DIRECTOR, NISSAN MOTOR GREAT BRITAIN
- SMITH SUCCEEDS JAMES WRIGHT, WHO IS APPOINTED VICE PRESIDENT, NISSAN EUROPE EAST
- WRIGHT SUCCEEDS PHILLIPE SAILLARD, WHO IS APPOINTED VICE PRESIDENT, NISSAN EUROPE SALES
- SAILLARD TAKES OVER FROM RAOUL PICELLO, WHO JOINS INFINITI AS VICE PRESIDENT, EUROPE, MIDDLE EAST AND ASIA
Rolle (Switzerland), September 20th, 2016.- Nissan Europe today announced several senior management changes aimed at supporting the company’s goal of becoming the most desirable Asian vehicle brand in Europe by 2020. All of the appointments are effective Oct. 1.
Alex Smith, who comes from Volkswagen UK where he served as Director, has been appointed Managing Director of Nissan Motor Great Britain (NMGB).
Mr. Smith, 42, will take over from James Wright, who has been appointed Vice President of Nissan Europe East, overseeing Russia, Ukraine, Central Eastern Europe (Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic and Slovakia),and the Datsun Business Unit in Russia, among other entities.
Mr. Wright, 55, will take over from Philippe Saillard, 50, who has been promoted to Vice President, Nissan Europe Sales. Philippe succeeds Raoul Picello, 53, who has been named Infiniti Vice President for Europe, Middle East and Africa.
Messrs. Smith, Wright and Saillard will all report to Guillaume Cartier, Nissan Europe’s Senior Vice President for Sales & Marketing.
“I am delighted to welcome Alex to the Nissan team,” said Mr. Cartier. “With more than 20 years’ experience in the UK automotive industry and a solid track record, Alex will be a tremendous asset to our business”.
“Alex’s appointment, as well as the other senior management changes announced today, will strengthen our organisation’s ability to operate in an increasingly complex business environment and ensure we meet our goal of becoming the most desirable Asian brand in Europe by 2020,” Mr. Cartier added.
About Alex Smith
Prior to joining Volkswagen UK in 2007, where he led group parts sales, commercial vehicles and later passenger cars, Alex Smith worked at Kia Motors, GM Daewoo and Ford of Britain. He graduated from Leeds University in 1995 with a BA Honours degree in geography.
About James Wright
James Wright was appointed Managing Director of NMGB in 2011. Previously, he was Vice President for Infiniti Europe where he was responsible for the launch of the premium brand across 19 markets.
About Philippe Saillard
Philippe Saillard joined Nissan in 2006 as Sales Director for Nissan Europe West before being appointed Sales Director for Infiniti in Europe in 2009. In 2010, he was appointed Nissan Europe Managing Director for Central Eastern Europe and in 2013, he was made Managing Director of Nissan Europe East. In 2015, he was promoted to Vice President of East. Mr. Saillard began his career at Ford France.
Source: Nissan
Photographs by: Nissan
