Former Nissan MD to focus on African markets
The current managing director of Nissan South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa, Mike Whitfield has been appointed the managing director of Nissan Motor Egypt (NMEG).
Having been a former president of National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (NAAMSA), Mike Whitfield joined Nissan as a marketing trainee back in 1981. Since his appointment of managing director of Nissan SA in 2008 after having held many senior positions in the company, Nissan SA has achieved a record 10% market share, the highest this century, under his leadership.
Based in Cairo from 20th June 2019, Whitfield will replace Kohei Maeda the current managing director of Nissan Motor Egypt and shift the focus on the growing middle class of the African markets. Shinkichi Izumi which joined Nissan in 2001 was originally based in Nissan’s head office in Japan working within the Asia and Oceania region. After his roles in sales, marketing and corporate planning he was appointed deputy managing director of Nissan South Africa in 2018 and will fill the void left by Mike Whitfield.
“The appointments announced today will drive performance in key African markets. Mike and Shinkichi both have extensive market knowledge and diverse experience within the auto industry. They will bring clear leadership and a strong customer focus to deliver growth and business performance.” Peyman Kargar, chairman of Nissan’s Africa, Middle East and India region.
