Nissan Europe's Sales & Marketing SVP, Mario Canavesi, to Step Down
Trappes, France (ots/PRNewswire)
- Brian Carolin Named as Successor
After 35 years in the automotive industry, including the last five years with Nissan Europe S.A.S., Mario Canavesi, Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing, has announced he is leaving the company effective December 31, 2004. Brian Carolin, currently Vice President Sales Operations, is appointed Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing for Nissan Europe's operations, replacing Canavesi. In this role, Carolin will oversee Nissan's sales and marketing activities in over 30 countries across Europe and will report directly to Patrick Pelata, Executive Vice President, Nissan Motor Company, Ltd. and Chairman of the Management Committee Europe.
"My time at Nissan Europe has been very rewarding and I am fortunate to have had the support of an excellent team, particularly during the last five years as we undertook the most significant turnaround in Nissan Europe's history. It has been gratifying to see Nissan begin to live up to its potential in Europe and I am confident it will continue to grow, profitably for years to come," said Canavesi.
Canavesi joined Nissan in March 2000 shortly after the Company announced the Nissan Revival Plan and following the Renault-Nissan Alliance. His previous responsibilities included a number of sales and marketing positions with Renault SA. Canavesi joined Renault's advertising department in 1969 and his most recent position with Renault was as Managing Director for Renault Germany from 1997 to 2000.
"Mario has played a vital role in Nissan Europe's swift return to profitability. He has made many needed changes in the sales and marketing organization and led the efforts to quickly improve Nissan's distribution system across Europe," said Pelata.
Since joining Nissan in 1984 at Nissan Motor Manufacturing (UK) Ltd., Carolin has held the positions of General Manager, Corporate Support followed by Product Marketing at Nissan Europe. In 1998 he was appointed to the position of Managing Director for Nissan Motor Great Britain (NMGB), where he was responsible for Nissan's sales and marketing activities in the United Kingdom. He returned to Nissan Europe in March of this year as Vice-President Sales Operations.
"Sales and Marketing are vital functions for Nissan as they directly impact our brand image and customer awareness," said Pelata. "Brian's appointment will allow Nissan to continue to maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of our sales and marketing efforts as we embark upon an aggressive product blitz over the three years."
In Europe, Nissan's operations include automotive styling, engineering, sales and marketing, distribution and manufacturing. More information on Nissan in Europe and the complete line of Nissan vehicles can be found at www.nissaneurope-newsbureau.com.
Contact:
Contacts: Nissan Europe, Corporate Communications: Penny Szczepaniak,
+33-(0)1-30-13-57-87; Gilles Gautherot, +33-(0)1-30-13-67-67