Nissan has announced a major leadership shakeup, with CEO Makoto Uchida stepping down from his role.
Ivan Espinosa, currently the company’s chief planning officer, will take over as CEO from April 1, 2025. The move follows weeks of speculation and comes at a critical juncture for the automaker.
Uchida’s departure marks the end of a five-year tenure that began in the aftermath of the Carlos Ghosn scandal.
Initially overseeing a period of recovery, Uchida’s leadership faltered in 2024, as Nissan faced declining sales, underwhelming financial performance and a restructuring effort that included job cuts and factory slowdowns.
The recent collapse of merger talks with Honda only added to the company’s turmoil.
A strategic shift for survival
Yasushi Kimura, Independent Outside Director and Chair of Nissan’s Board, emphasised the urgency of the leadership change.
“Given the industry-wide challenges and Nissan’s performance, we believe that it is necessary as well as appropriate to change the top management team. Nissan is in the midst of transformation. We believe we chose the right person who is qualified to lead the company in these times.”
Uchida, for his part, acknowledged the need for clarity regarding Nissan’s future direction.
“I have been saying that my stepping down is to be decided by the board of directors. As I said last month, I believe that clarifying the direction of Nissan as soon as possible and quickly passing the baton to my successor is the way to take responsibility as the CEO of the company.”
The decision to replace Uchida underscores mounting concerns about Nissan’s ability to navigate external pressures, including geopolitical uncertainties and proposed tariffs on Japanese car imports by US President Donald Trump’s administration. Uchida will remain a director until Nissan’s annual general meeting in June 2025.
Wider management reshuffle
Beyond the CEO transition, Nissan is undergoing significant executive restructuring.
Several key figures are set to leave, including Chief Technology Officer Kunio Nakaguro, Chief Monozukuri Officer Hideyuki Sakamoto, Chief Brand & Customer Officer Asako Hoshino and Chief Strategy & Corporate Affairs Officer Hideaki Watanabe.
This overhaul follows an initial round of executive changes in January, as Nissan seeks to revitalise its strategy and operational efficiency.
The company has framed these moves as part of a broader transformation effort aimed at securing long-term growth.
However, whether this leadership refresh will be enough to reverse Nissan’s declining trajectory remains to be seen.
With Espinosa at the helm, Nissan faces a daunting road ahead.
The industry is shifting rapidly, competition is intensifying and the company must prove it can still compete in an increasingly electrified and autonomous vehicle market.
One thing is certain: Nissan is betting on change.