Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. has announced a series of senior management changes across its Africa, Middle East, India, Europe and Oceania (AMIEO) region, expanding the responsibilities of Thierry Sabbagh to include India operations with effect from 1 January 2026. The changes are intended to strengthen execution of the company’s ‘Re:Nissan’ transformation plan and improve operational efficiency, speed, and customer focus across the region.
Sabbagh has been appointed Divisional Vice President and President for the Middle East, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Commonwealth of Independent States and India, with responsibility for both the Nissan and Infiniti brands. The company said the expanded mandate is aimed at maintaining leadership continuity in established markets while reinforcing governance, execution, and growth momentum in India, which it identified as a strategic priority within the AMIEO region.
The leadership changes form part of a broader reorganisation covering Africa, Europe, and Oceania. Nissan said the revised structure is designed to create a more agile regional organisation capable of responding more quickly to market dynamics while improving coordination and accountability across markets.
“The Re:Nissan plan is about transformation and customer-centricity. By empowering regional leadership, we are creating a more agile organisation that can respond quickly to market dynamics and deliver competitive, compelling products,” said Massimiliano Messina, Chairperson, Nissan AMIEO. “I am confident these changes will strengthen our performance and supercharge our progress in 2026 and I wish Thierry every success in his new role,” he added.
“I am honored to take on this expanded role at a pivotal time for Nissan. The Middle East and India are dynamic, fast-growing and continuously evolving markets, with significant opportunities ahead,” said Thierry Sabbagh, Divisional Vice President and President, Middle East, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Commonwealth of Independent States and India – Nissan and Infiniti. “I look forward to working closely with our talented teams and partners across the region to build on our strong foundations, accelerate growth and deliver meaningful value for our customers,” he added.
“This is a significant moment for Nissan in India as we enter a new phase of growth. Having Thierry on board reinforces our confidence in the path ahead, and his experience and leadership will be instrumental in strengthening our market presence and delivering even greater value for our customers,” said Saurabh Vatsa, Managing Director, Nissan Motor India. “This appointment further strengthens our leadership as we move from transformation to execution, with a clear focus on products, customers and sustainable growth,” he added.
Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. is a global automotive manufacturer operating under the Nissan and Infiniti brands across multiple regions. The company is currently implementing its Re:Nissan plan, which focuses on organisational transformation, operational efficiency, and sustainable long-term growth.
Nissan’s manufacturing presence in India is centred on the Renault-Nissan Automotive India Private Ltd facility at Oragadam near Chennai, which serves as a shared production base for the alliance’s operations. The plant supports both domestic sales and exports and currently manufactures the Nissan Magnite for the Indian market and select overseas markets, positioning India as a key production and export hub within Nissan’s Asia and AMIEO manufacturing network as the company moves into its next phase of execution.