Nissan Americas Announces Change of Leadership for Engineering & Development Operations

FRANKLIN, Tenn., Feb. 17, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Nissan Americas today announced the appointment of Carla Bailo as senior vice president, Research & Development-Nissan Americas, effective April 1.  Bailo will succeed Motohiro Matsumura, currently president, Nissan Technical Center North America (NTCNA), who will be returning to Nissan Motor Company, Ltd. in Japan to assume his next key assignment to be announced in the near future.

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In her new role, Bailo will report to Carlos Tavares, chairman of Nissan's Management Committee-Americas (MC-A), and be responsible for all of Nissan's vehicle engineering and development operations in Michigan, Arizona, Mexico and Brazil.  She will also retain her current position as a member of Nissan's MC-A, the company's highest-ranking decision-making body in the Americas region covering the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Brazil, and 37 other Latin American and Caribbean countries.

"Carla's track record for leadership, combined with her technical expertise and business acumen, will be critical as we continue to align Nissan's engineering and technical resources to grow across the Americas," said Tavares.  "She has established an impressive record for achieving quality and cost competitiveness while driving for continuous improvement in vehicle technology and quality, and I am enthusiastic about her contributions in her new role."

Bailo, 50, is currently based in Japan where she serves as OEM business unit divisional general manager for Nissan Motor Company, Ltd. (NML).  In this multi-dimensional role she is responsible for overall operations, revenue and profitability of Nissan's OEM relationships for vehicle, powertrain, technology and intellectual property business worldwide.  Prior to her current assignment, Bailo was recovery program director through the financial crisis and she was also the program director responsible for the profitability and product presence of Nissan's SUV's worldwide.

Earlier in her Nissan career, Bailo worked in vehicle engineering and vehicle program management and she was assistant chief vehicle engineer on the Nissan Sentra and Nissan Quest in the U.S. 

She joined Nissan from General Motors in 1989 as a vehicle testing engineer at NTCNA and holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from General Motors Institute (now Kettering University) and a master's degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Michigan. 

In her new assignment, Bailo will be based in Farmington Hills, Mich. and will relocate with her family from Japan to southeast Michigan.

"I want to thank Motohiro Matsumura for his strong efforts and leadership at NTCNA. During his tenure, Matsumura-san has successfully overseen a significant increase in vehicle engineering and development workflow, as Nissan has expanded rapidly throughout the Americas," Tavares said.  "Under his leadership, NTCNA teams in Michigan, Arizona, Mexico, and Brazil have successfully supported the launches of a number of important new models including the NV commercial van line-up and the all-new Nissan LEAF electric vehicle.  We wish him every success as he takes on his new assignment."

In North America, Nissan's operations include automotive styling, engineering, consumer and corporate financing, sales and marketing, distribution and manufacturing.  Nissan is dedicated to improving the environment under the Nissan Green Program 2010 and has been recognized as a 2010 ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. More information on Nissan in North America, the Nissan LEAF and zero emissions can be found at www.nissanusa.com.

SOURCE Nissan North America

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