Nissan’s new CEO, Ivan Espinosa, has been part of the company since 2003
Nissan had quite a week. After initial reports suggested that Makoto Uchida was being replaced as CEO, the company’s board confirmed the news—Uchida is officially stepping down.
Effective April 1, 2025, Nissan’s new CEO will be Ivan Espinosa, a 22-year company veteran who has been with the brand since 2003. While some may view Espinosa as stepping into unfamiliar territory, many within Nissan recognize him as a true car enthusiast.
Outgoing CEO Makoto Uchida reaffirmed this, describing Espinosa as a passionate “car guy” full of energy.
“Espinosa is still in his 40s and full of energy. He’s also a real car guy,” Uchida stated.
A Long Journey at Nissan
Espinosa began his career at Nissan in October 2003 as a Product Specialist in Product Planning for Nissan Mexico. Over the years, he climbed the ranks, holding key positions such as General Manager for Product Planning & Marketing – LCV, Marketing Director for ASEAN, and Deputy Overseas Program Director for ASEAN.
In 2010, he returned to Nissan Mexico as Director for Advanced and Product Planning for Mexico and Latin America. By 2014, he had moved to Nissan International as Vice President for Product Strategy and Planning before joining Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. as Program Director for the D-segment.
His career continued to accelerate, with roles including:
- Vice President of Global Product Strategy and Planning (2017)
- Corporate Vice President at Nissan Motor Co. Ltd.
- Senior Vice President for Global Product Strategy and Motorsports (2019)
- Chief Planning Officer (April 2024), overseeing Global Product Planning, Global Program Management, and the Motorsports Business Unit
The Road Ahead
As Espinosa prepares to take the reins from Uchida in April 2025, all eyes will be on how he navigates Nissan’s ongoing financial challenges. However, given his enthusiasm for cars, there’s hope he can inject some excitement back into the brand.
While Nissan still has the Z, Espinosa has expressed interest in bringing more performance models to the lineup, especially with the GT-R’s departure. He even dreams of reviving the legendary Silvia for a new generation.
Time will tell if Espinosa can steer Nissan back to stability, but one thing is certain—he’s a car guy at heart, and that could be exactly what Nissan needs right now.
