(Business Wire)  Nissan today announced leadership changes within its North American operations coinciding with the upcoming start of the company’s Fiscal Year 2015 on April 1.

The changes announced today will positively impact the company’s North American operations and further accelerate progress towards the company’s global ‘Power 88’ mid-term business plan.

As part of today’s announcement, Nissan will reorganize its U.S. regional sales organization into eight geographic territories, from today’s five. This action will allow Nissan to better meet the local needs of its dealer network and customers.

The following changes are effective April 1, unless otherwise noted.

Nissan Division Sales & Marketing

Pietro Berardi, currently vice president, New Business and Aftersales Strategy, is named vice president, Aftersales, NA, reporting to José Muñoz, executive vice president, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. and chairman, Management Committee – Nissan North America (NNA).

Wally Burchfield, currently director, Human Resources Business Partner, Marketing and Sales and Administration and Finance, is promoted to vice president, Aftersales, U.S. He will report to Fred Diaz, senior vice president, Marketing, Sales and Operations, for his U.S. responsibilities and to Berardi for North American Aftersales matters.

Anne Corrao, currently director, Nissan Sales Operations, is named regional vice president (RVP), Nissan West Region. She will report to Diaz.

Toby Perry, director, Electric Vehicle (EV) Chief Marketing Manager (CMM) and Overseas Program Director (OPD), is named director, Nissan Sales Operations, backfilling Corrao. He will report to Derek Hatami, vice president, Sales, U.S.

Mike Rocco, currently regional operations manager (ROM), Nissan Central Region, is promoted to RVP, Mid-Atlantic Region. He will report to Diaz.

Josh Batie, currently area general manager (AGM), Nissan Midwest Region, is promoted to RVP, Nissan Northwest Region. He will report to Diaz.

Customer Quality and Dealer Network Development

After 28 years with NNA, John Spoon, currently vice president, Customer Quality and Chief Customer Officer, has elected to retire effective Jul. 2, 2015. We thank John for his years of service and dedication to the organization.

Effective Jul. 2, 2015, Dave Mazur, currently vice president, Market Intelligence & Regional Revenue Optimization, is named vice president, Customer Quality, Chief Customer Officer and Market Intelligence, North America, backfilling Spoon. He will report to Scott Becker, senior vice president, Administration and Finance for Market Intelligence matters, Diaz on all Customer Quality operations and to Muñoz as Chief Customer Officer.

Don Strong, currently director, Customer Quality, NA, is named director, Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and Digital Marketing Platforms. He will report to Jeremy Tucker, vice president, Marketing, U.S.

Manufacturing

After 27 years with Nissan, Jose Luis Benitez, AC, director CIVAC, Nissan Mexico (NMEX) has elected to retire. Nissan thanks Jose for his dedication to the company and the organization. David Aldana, currently on Foreign Service Assignment as vice president, Canton Manufacturing, will return to NMEX backfilling Benitez as director, CIVAC, NMEX. He will report to Armando Avila, vice president Nissan Mexico Manufacturing.

Steve Marsh joins NNA from Nissan Europe and is promoted to vice president, Canton Manufacturing, backfilling Aldana. He will report to John Martin, senior vice president, Manufacturing, Supply Chain Management and Purchasing, North America.

Nissan Mexico (NMEX) & Nissan Latin America (NLAC)

Mayra Gonzalez, currently regional vice president, NMEX, is promoted to regional vice president, Sales and Marketing, NMEX. In this role she will have responsibility for all sales, marketing, dealer network and related activities for NMEX. Gonzalez will report to Airton Cousseau, president, NMEX.

Jorge Vallejo, currently, director, Government Affairs, NMEX, is named director, Government Affairs and Sales Export, NMEX. He will report in both capacities to Cousseau and will continue to report to Andrew Tavi, vice president, Legal, Government Affairs, Human Resources and General Counsel, on Government Affairs matters.

Daniel Pelayo, currently sub-director, Aftersales, NMEX, is promoted to director, Aftersales, NLAC. He will report to Jose Roman, vice president, NLAC.

Research and Development

Dana Hargitt, vice president, Components Engineering, has elected to retire. Nissan thanks Dana for his contributions to Nissan Technical Center North America (NTCNA.)

Chris Reed, currently director, OCVE D-platform SUV, is promoted to vice president, Components Engineering, backfilling Hargitt. He will report to Kunio Nakaguro, senior vice president, Research and Development, NTCNA.

Takeshi Yamaguchi, currently vice president, Vehicle Engineering and Vehicle Program Management, returns to NML and is backfilled by Eiichi Akashi, currently general manager, Vehicle Development Planning Department at Nissan Technical Center in NML.

Infiniti

Claudia Marquez, currently director, Marketing, NMEX, is promoted to the newly created position of senior director, Infiniti Sales Operations. She will report to Randy Parker, vice president, Infiniti Americas. Marquez will have responsibility for Sales Operations, Aftersales, Customer Experience and Strategy.

Jeff Pope, currently director, Infiniti Sales Operations, is taking a Foreign Service Assignment in Hong Kong as director, Infiniti Global Sales Operations. He will report to Gaby Wuest, Infiniti vice president, Global Operations.

Bob Welby, currently senior manager, Infiniti Marketing Communications, is promoted to director, Infiniti Sales Operations, backfilling Pope. He will report to Marques.

Stephen Lester, currently regional general manager (RGM), Infiniti Operations, NCI, is promoted to managing director (MD), Infiniti Canada. He will report to Meunier and Parker.

About Nissan

Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Japan's second-largest automotive company, is headquartered in Yokohama, Japan, and is part of the Renault-Nissan Alliance. Operating with more than 244,500 employees globally, Nissan sold almost 5.2 million vehicles and generated revenue of 10.5 trillion yen (USD 105 billion) in fiscal 2013. Nissan delivers a comprehensive range of more than 60 models under the Nissan, Infiniti and Datsun brands. In 2010, Nissan introduced the Nissan LEAF, and continues to lead in zero-emission mobility. The LEAF, the first mass-market, pure-electric vehicle launched globally, is now the best-selling EV in history with almost 50% share of the zero-emission vehicle segment.

For more information on our products, services and commitment to sustainable mobility, visit our website at http://www.nissan-global.com/EN/

About Nissan North America

In North America, Nissan's operations include automotive styling, engineering, consumer and corporate financing, sales and marketing, distribution and manufacturing. Nissan is dedicated to improving the environment under the Nissan Green Program and has been recognized as an ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. More information on Nissan in North America and the complete line of Nissan and Infiniti vehicles can be found online at NissanUSA.com and InfinitiUSA.com, or visit the Americas media sites NissanNews.com and InfinitiNews.com.

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