- As of April 1st, Ivan Espinosa has begun a new role as President and CEO of Nissan Motor Corporation, taking over from his predecessor Makoto Uchida, who previously held the position for five years.
- Espinosa’s appointment comes at a crucial time for Nissan, and will be looking to stabilize and ‘accelerate’ Nissan’s pace, after he becomes the fourth CEO for the manufacturer in just eight years.
- Espinosa will help continue Nissan’s ‘Ambition 2030’, which lays down various electrification goals towards 2030 and beyond.
Change of leadership at Nissan
Espinosa has already spent more than two decades of his career at Nissan, also having held various senior positions – most recently being the Chief Planning Officer, a role which he held for around one year before his new role as President and CEO.
Nissan’s EV future is looking much more positive than it did just a few months ago, after merger talks between Honda, Nissan, and Mitsubishi Motors broke down earlier this year. Fast forward to now, and Nissan is primed to significantly expand its global EV lineup, with the arrival of three new electric cars through 2025 and 2026. With Espinosa’s appointment, the next few years will be crucial for Nissan to position itself as a strong player in the EV space. After all, it was Nissan that originally pioneered one of the first mass-produced EVs, with the first-generation Nissan Leaf.
Ivan Espinosa commented on LinkedIn:
“Today is an important day for us at Nissan Motor Corporation as we move forward with a refocused direction into the next chapter. For me personally, it’s a significant moment as I step into the role of CEO, with a critically important job ahead. There’s a lot to accomplish, but I believe we are more than what we are seen as today.
Our immediate priorities are to stabilize our performance and reignite our mindset for the future. I advocate three key words as my mantra: speed, stability, and empathy. These will help us understand Nissan’s focus moving forward.
By accelerating our pace and aligning with the fast-changing world around us, we aim to strengthen Nissan’s position in key markets. To achieve this, we will concentrate on what we do best: making and selling cars that bring joy to our customers.
Our new and refreshed vehicles and technology will propel us forward. We are already witnessing positive momentum from our recent launches, driven by our commitment to the thrill and excitement of driving a Nissan—whether it’s our iconic sports cars or cutting-edge EVs.”
Outgoing CEO, Makoto Uchida, added:
“From the beginning, our focus has been on creating innovative products that drive us forward. My five years as CEO coincided with a very challenging time both for the industry and for Nissan. There have been ups and downs, but I feel that as a company we have been able to stay true to our identity.
I have said repeatedly that Nissan is capable of much more than what you see today. My belief hasn’t changed. I am sure that Nissan will come back stronger. I’d like to thank every employee, customer, supplier and partner for their support during my time as CEO. It has been invaluable.
Under the incoming leadership of Ivan Espinosa and the rest of the amazing Nissan team, I’m confident the company will continue to evolve and innovate. I wish the very best of luck to Nissan, its people and their combined vision for the future of mobility!”
