Nissan Americas Appoints Long-Time Exec as VP of Product Planning

Nissan Americas has chosen a new vice president of product planning.

Revealed late last week, the OEM appointed long-time executive Pierre Loing — former vice president of product strategy and planning for Nissan Europe — to the position, effective Jan. 1.

In his new position, Loing will now be responsible for advanced and product planning for all Nissan and Infiniti vehicles throughout the Americas.

Commenting on the new hire, Brian Carolin, senior vice president of sales and marketing for Nissan North America, said, "Pierre has flourished during his tenure running product planning in Europe, overseeing major successes such as the Qashqai (a compact crossover SUV) and greatly boosting Nissan’s presence in Europe.

“Due to a combination of his sporting passion and dedication, Pierre has worked tirelessly to place Nissan in high regard within the European market. We are excited to welcome him to Nissan Americas,” he continued.

Furthermore, in Loing’s new role, he will have a dual reporting relationship to Carolin and Tom Lane, corporate vice president of Nissan Motor Co., who also oversees the company’s global product planning activities.

Loing will be based at Nissan Americas headquarters in Franklin, Tenn., the company shared.

Highlighting Loing’s history with the company, in his most recent role as vice president of product strategy and planning for Nissan Europe, he was responsible for all near-future Nissan products.

“In addition to the Qashqai, Loing played key roles in the development of other high-profile vehicles including the Nissan LEAF, the world’s first and only all-electric, zero-emissions vehicles for the mass market,” the company shared.

Loing joined Nissan in 1999, and prior to taking his role at Nissan Europe in 2006, he was general manager of advanced product planning at Nissan, responsible for projects ranging from six to eight years into the future.