News Summary
Nissan has appointed Michael Soutter as the new Senior Vice President of U.S. Marketing and Sales. With over a decade of experience within the company and impressive leadership roles, Soutter aims to enhance brand performance and customer relationships. He will be based at Nissan Americas headquarters in Franklin, Tennessee. His predecessor, Vinay Shahani, stepped down after significant contributions since March 2024.
Nissan Welcomes Michael Soutter as New Senior VP of U.S. Marketing and Sales
Exciting news is on the horizon at Nissan! The automotive giant has just announced that Michael Soutter will be stepping into the role of Senior Vice President for U.S. Marketing and Sales. This change takes effect immediately, and it’s generating buzz in both the corporate world and among car enthusiasts alike.
Leadership Experience Takes the Spotlight
Michael Soutter is no stranger to the Nissan family; he brings over a decade of industry experience to his new position. Throughout his career with Nissan, he has held crucial global and regional leadership roles that have shaped the trajectory of the company. Prior to this new role, Soutter served as the Vice President of Aftersales at Nissan Americas from 2018 to 2022, where he was based in Franklin, Tennessee.
Following this, he took on a significant challenge in Japan, becoming Corporate Vice President and overseeing Nissan’s Global Aftersales business from 2022 to 2023. During his time in these positions, he made quite an impact, driving strong performance and achieving record operating profits. “It’s clear that Michael has a keen eye for what works and a passion for making improvements,” said one industry insider.
Setting Higher Standards for Marketing and Sales
In his new role, Soutter will take charge of all marketing and sales activities for the Nissan brand across the U.S. He will also supervise the INFINITI business in the Americas. Given the competitive nature of the automotive market today, this position is critical for aligning sales practices with customer experiences. Christian Meunier, Chairman of Nissan Americas, has expressed strong confidence in Soutter, noting that he is “the right person to enhance the Nissan and INFINITI brands.”
Meunier also highlighted Soutter’s successful track record with dealer partners, indicating that his leadership will bring about positive changes in how Nissan interacts with customers and its network of dealers. The aim is to not just sell cars, but to foster relationships and improve experiences for everyone involved.
A Fond Farewell to Vinay Shahani
With all this exciting change, it’s worth noting the departure of Soutter’s predecessor, Vinay Shahani. After his time redefining the Nissan and INFINITI brands since March 2024, Shahani has decided to pursue new opportunities outside the automotive industry. He is looking forward to spending more quality time with his family. During his tenure, Shahani made significant contributions that helped raise both brands to new heights.
Meunier took a moment to commend Shahani for his leadership, remarking on how he successfully navigated the challenges of a changing market landscape. It’s a bittersweet goodbye, but it seems that Shahani leaves with the confidence that things are in good hands.
Strong Educational Background
As if his hands-on experience wasn’t enough, Soutter holds serious academic credentials too. He earned both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in economics from Concordia University, and an MBA from the Schulich School of Business at York University. His strong educational foundation complements his extensive experience, making him well-equipped to tackle the challenges that lie ahead.
A New Chapter at Nissan Americas Headquarters
Moving forward, Michael Soutter will be based at the Nissan Americas headquarters in Franklin, Tennessee, where he’ll be at the helm of an array of initiatives aimed at elevating the company. With a fresh perspective and clear goals, there’s a lot of optimism surrounding this new chapter for both Michael and Nissan.
As we watch how Soutter sets out to navigate this competitive landscape, we can only anticipate even more exciting developments from Nissan in the near future. It’s a transformative time for the brand, and Soutter is certainly ready to take on the challenge!
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Additional Resources
- Nissan News Release
- Wikipedia: Nissan
- MediaPost
- Google Search: Nissan marketing news
- Automotive News
- Google Scholar: Nissan Marketing
- Tennessean
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Nissan
- Autoblog
- Google News: Nissan Soutter
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