In an effort to enhance performance within its North American operations, Nissan announced last week a series of leadership shifts.

Commenting on the news, Jose Munoz, who becomes chairman of Nissan North America effective Jan. 1, said, "These moves will help us achieve the objectives of Nissan's Power 88 mid-term business plan in the newly announced North America region. The Nissan team is continuing to strengthen its focus on ensuring high product quality and customer satisfaction while improving both brand and franchise value with our dealer network."

The changes according to Nissan are as follows:

• Fred Diaz, currently divisional vice president, sales and marketing, parts and service, Nissan U.S.A., is appointed senior vice president, sales and marketing, parts and service, U.S.A., effective Jan. 1. Diaz will report to Munoz, and his current position will not be replaced.
   
• Airton Cousseau, currently regional vice president, Nissan Mexicana (NMEX), is promoted to managing director, NMEX, succeeding Jose Valls who recently was promoted to chairman of Latin America and Brazil. Cousseau will assume his role on Jan. 1, and will report to Munoz.
   
• Jon Brancheau, currently vice president, Nissan marketing, fills the newly created position of vice president, Nissan marketing communications and media, reporting to Diaz.
   
• Dan Mohnke, currently director, marketing operations, is promoted to the newly created position of vice president, Nissan chief marketing manager (CMM) and marketing operations, reporting to Diaz.
   
• Scott Shirley, currently director, CMM, succeeds Dan Mohnke as director, marketing operations, and will report to Mohnke.
   
• Phil O'Connor, currently senior manager, marketing media, is promoted to director, CMM, succeeding Shirley and reporting to Mohnke.
   
• Mayra Gonzalez, currently director, customer quality and dealer network development (CQ and DND) strategy, succeeds Cousseau as regional vice president, NMEX, effective Jan. 1. In this role, she reports to Cousseau, and her current responsibilities within CQ/DND report to Leon Dorssers, vice president, CQ/DND.
   
• Matt Burhart, currently director, Nissan sales operations, becomes director, light commercial vehicles (LCV) sales and marketing, reporting to Joe Castelli, vice president, LCV.
   
• Anne Corrao, currently director, CQ and DND, succeeds Matt Burhart as director, Nissan sales operations, effective Jan. 1. She will report to Diaz.
   
• Jose Luis Montiel, currently director, Infiniti operations, NMEX and Nissan Latin America and the Caribbean (NLAC), becomes director, CQ and DND, NLAC, reporting to Dorssers and Jose Roman, vice president and managing director, NLAC.
   
• Paul O'Brien, currently senior manager, human resources business partner, Smyrna Manufacturing, is promoted to director, human resources, RandD, total customer satisfaction, manufacturing engineering and purchasing position reporting to Mark Stout, vice president, human resources and Carla Bailo, senior vice president, RandD.

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