Nissan has announced senior management appointments within Nissan and Dongfeng Motor Co, which are aimed at further strengthening the company’s marketing and sales operations in Japan and China.

Susumu Uchikoshi, currently vice president of Dongfeng Motor Co and managing director of Dongfeng Nissan Passenger Vehicle Company, will return to Nissan Motor Co, global headquarters to assume a newly created role of regional senior vice president for Japan Marketing and Sales.

Airton Cousseau, currently President of Nissan Mexicana, will succeed Susumu Uchikoshi as vice president of Dongfeng Motor Co and managing director of Dongfeng Nissan Passenger Vehicle (subject to the board of director’s approval.) Both appointments are effective July 1, 2016.

Mayra Gonzalez, currently regional vice president, sales and marketing, Nissan Mexicana, will be appointed as president, Nissan Mexicana. Gonzalez will become the first female executive ever to be appointed president of a country within the Nissan Group. Her experience spans customer quality, sales and dealer network development in North and South America.

 Dongfeng Motor Co is a partner of both Nissan and Renault. The Chinese automobile manufacturer has enjoyed a business partnership with Nissan for more than a decade, as well as, a joint venture with Renault under the umbrella name Dongfeng Renault Automobile Company (DRAC.) This year, Renault began producing cars in China as part of this collaboration.

"Airton Cousseau has performed at a very high level during his tenure in Nissan Mexico, and his results have been nothing short of extraordinary," said Jose Munoz, executive vice president, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. (NML) and chairman, Nissan North America. "We expect that he will transfer his leadership talents to China and provide Dongfeng with strong performance as they work to attain their full potential."

“Mayra Gonzalez has proven to be an effective and gifted executive during her time in Nissan Mexico," said Munoz. "We are proud of her accomplishments and look forward to her leading our Mexican operations to continued success in the future," he concluded.