FRANKLIN, Tenn. -

This week, Nissan Americas revealed the director now in charge of sales in Latin America as well as the promotion of one of its executives for corporate communications.

Company officials said the new director of Nissan Latin America and the Caribbean is Kenneth Ramirez. They also appointed Paula Angelo as director of corporate communications for Nissan Americas.

Both of these changes are effective April 1.

Management explained Ramirez, 42, will be responsible for Nissan’s sales in Latin America, which cover 37 markets throughout Central and South America and the Caribbean. The company said Ramirez will report to Shoichi Miyatani, corporate vice president of Nissan Latin America and the Caribbean.

Nissan recalled that Ramirez joined the company from Motorola in 2002 and most recently was director of the program management office for Nissan Mexico with oversight for vehicle programs.

Ramirez’s Nissan career has also included leadership positions in engineering and program management in the U.S., Japan and Mexico.

They pointed out Angelo, 48, came on board with Nissan in 2007 and is currently director of internal communications for Nissan Americas. In her new role, officials said Angelo will report to David Reuter, vice president of corporate communications for Nissan Americas. The company is asking Angelo to be responsible for all corporate communications activities including manufacturing communications, philanthropic efforts and crisis and strategic communications.

Angelo has more than two decades of corporate communications and public affairs experience, most recently at Delphi Corp.

“As we continue to align Nissan’s many operations across the Western hemisphere and build them into a single, growing and competitive Americas business unit, we will benefit from the talent and experience that Ken and Paula bring to their new assignments,” stated Carlos Tavares, chairman of Nissan Americas.

Officials noted Ramirez succeeds Hidenori Tsukamoto, who will return to Japan for a soon-to-be announced assignment with Nissan Motor Co.

During his tenure in the Americas, executives insisted Tsukamoto was instrumental in growing Nissan’s market share in Latin America and contributed to a volume increase of more than 60 percent in Latin American countries.

“We wish Hidenori much success as he returns to his new assignment in Japan. His leadership and expertise in our Latin American operations has driven Nissan to record sales and market share in the region,” Tavares said.

Meanwhile, Nissan noted Angelo takes on the corporate communications responsibilities previously held by Reuter prior to his appointment as vice president.