BERNARD LOIRE RETURNS TO HEAD KEY EUROPEAN MARKET
ROLLE, (Switzerland) November 5th, 2012 – Bernard Loire has been appointed managing director, Nissan Italy. Based in Rome, he will report to Paul Willcox, senior vice president, Sales and Marketing Europe.
This appointment marks Mr. Loire’s return to Nissan Italy, where he was managing director in 2008. Since 2011, he has been vice president, Infiniti Business Unit for Africa, Middle East, India and Europe (AMIE).
Commenting on the appointment, Paul Willcox said: «I am delighted to welcome Bernard back to head-up Nissan in Italy. Market conditions are challenging right across Europe, but especially so in Italy, one of Nissan’s key sales regions.
«Bernard’s previous experience here has given him a unique and invaluable insight into the local market. This knowledge, along with his proven strong management skills, will help Nissan outperform the market.»
Bernard Loire added, «I am pleased to have the opportunity to help drive Nissan’s strategic direction in Italy so that we may achieve our challenging business targets and reinforce our brand positioning.»
Bernard Loire was born in France in 1965. A self-confessed ‘car guy’, he is fluent in French, Italian, Portuguese and English and started his career in the automotive industry in 1988 with Ford and then Fiat. He moved to the Nissan group in 2002 where his initial role was as market manager for seven European countries, before being appointed brand director for Nissan Portugal in 2005.
A year later he became project director of Shift_Europe, piloting Nissan’s new business model across 20 countries. In 2008, he was appointed managing director of Nissan Italy and a year later made vice president Sales Operations for Nissan International SA.
Since 2011, Mr Loire has been vice president, Infiniti AMIE. Until a successor is appointed, Mr. Loire will retain responsibility for the strategic direction of Infiniti AMIE. At the same time, Jean-Pierre Diernaz, marketing director, Infiniti AMIE, will support the day-to-day operational activities of the regional business unit.
Mr. Loire replaces Andrea Alessi who left Nissan Italy last month.
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Text and photograph by: Nissan.
