Nissan has announced changes to its management in the Middle East region. Juergen Schmitz has been appointed as managing director of Nissan Middle East, and Markus Leithe has been named managing director of Infiniti Middle East.
Juergen Schmitz brings more than 25 years of experience in the automotive industry to the role. He joins Nissan from Infiniti Middle East, where he led the Nissan subsidiary since 2011, first as general manager and then as managing director.
Schmitz joined Nissan in 2007 as regional director for Infiniti Central Europe, where he was responsible for sales and marketing, as well as the development of a dealer network covering 10 markets. He had previously gained wide experience with European manufacturers, including Saab and Mercedes Benz.
Schmitz will report to Kalyana Sivignanam, president of Nissan Middle East and regional vice president of marketing and sales for Africa, Middle East and India.
Schmitz said: “It is an exciting time for Nissan in the Middle East. There are opportunities for further growth, underpinned by our iconic and best-selling Nissan Patrol, our extensive line-up and our outstanding customer service. With our highly capable team I feel confident that we will continue to meet our customers’ expectations and provide the best of automotive engineering.”
Markus Leithe’s expertise as a managing director in the automotive industry has been built on 20 years of international experience across Europe and the Middle East with roles in sales, marketing, product planning and business planning at headquarters and with national sales companies and importers.
Leithe takes the reins at Infiniti Middle East following his role as the managing director of commercial operations at General Motors.
Leithe said: “Infiniti is on an aggressive expansion strategy in the region as it continues to deliver on its promise of a premium motoring experience to our customers. The Middle East continues to play a strategic role for Infiniti, and I look forward to continuing to grow Infiniti’s success in the region.”
