Nissan Europe has named Stéphane Cottin, currently managing director Nissan Italy, vice president, marketing, Nissan Europe, replacing Paul Willcox, who becomes managing director of Nissan Motor GB.

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Cottin has extensive experience in sales and marketing at both a national and international level. He first began working with Renault in 1988 gaining field experience in a dealership and regional scope. In 2000, he joined Nissan Europe, at the time based in Amsterdam, where he was general manager for mid-term sales & marketing business plan and pricing. Cottin then spent two years between Trappes and Tokyo responsible for the launch of the ‘Value-Up’ programme in Europe before becoming brand director for the national sales company in Switzerland. In 2005, he then took the role as managing director of Nissan Italy.


Bernard Loire, who is currently general manager and responsible for leading the regional business unit (RBU) project across Europe, is promoted to managing director, Nissan Italy, replacing Cottin.


Loire joined Nissan Europe in 2002 as market manager in the sales division; responsible for the hand-over of Nissan’s Portuguese operations, before taking lead of the regionalisation and standardisation project across Europe. Prior to this, he spent 11 years in Ford of France in a number of functions (including sales, marketing, aftersales, LCV and fleet) and two years at the Fiat Auto headquarters in Turin, in the sales & marketing division.


Both positions are effective 1 April will report to Nissan Europe’s senior vice president for sales and marketing, Brian Carolin.

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