Nissan Oceania appoints new managing director

Adam Paterson has been appointed managing director of Nissan Oceania (Australia and New Zealand).

He’ll start his new role on July 1, 2021.

Mr Paterson has spent the last 12 months in the role of marketing director for Nissan Canada.

Prior to that, he was the managing director of Infiniti Canada from September 2017 to June 2020.

He replaced Stephen Lester in that role, the man whose role he is now stepping into.

Mr Paterson has held numerous roles throughout Nissan and Infiniti Canada, including in marketing, sales operations and dealer operations. One of these roles was as regional general manager for Nissan in Western Canada.

Prior to working for Nissan and Infiniti, he worked in sales and distribution for Hyundai in Canada.

Mr Paterson replaces another Canadian, Stephen Lester, who has been in the role since September 2017.

“[Mr Lester’s] leadership has contributed to the success of Nissan Australia and New Zealand and we thank him for his contributions,” said a spokesperson for Nissan Oceania.

“Mr Lester’s future career plans will be announced in due course.”

Mr Lester inherited a Nissan line-up that had been dramatically thinned, with the Micra, Pulsar, Altima and diesel Patrol axed shortly before he took over the role.

Nissan market share has in turn dipped slightly over the past few years, going from 4.8 per cent in 2017 to 4.2 per cent in 2020.

The brand’s share of the crucial ute segment has slipped while its Qashqai, X-Trail and Pathfinder crossovers are some of the oldest models in their respective segments. Nissan is getting ready to overhaul its range, however.

Mr Paterson will preside over one of the largest product overhauls at Nissan in recent years, with redesigned Qashqai and X-Trail crossovers due in 2022.

The next-generation Pathfinder is expected to follow them.

Nissan will also introduce its long-awaited 370Z replacement, which may wear the 400Z nameplate. Local launch timing has yet to be confirmed.