New role for Daphne at Nissan

LEON Daphne, one of the most prominent members of the local car industry, will step down on April 1 from his position as managing director – chief executive officer of Nissan Motor Company Australia.

However, 62-year-old Mr Daphne will stay involved as the new chairman of Nissan Australia and New Zealand while continuing his current roles of managing director of vehicle distributors Australia (responsible for Renault operations in Australia) and managing director of Nissan casting plant Australia.

He will take over the chairman’s role from Toshiyuki Shiga, senior vice-president of general overseas markets.

Mr Daphne’s replacement as MD-CEO at Nissan Australia is 45-year-old Shinya Hannya, who has worked in the overseas sales and marketing division of Nissan for more than 20 years, including five years with Nissan North America.

In his new position, Mr Hannya will be responsible for Nissan business in Australia and will lead the company towards achieving Nissan 180 - a three-year global business plan started in April 2002 to turn the company and achieve three goals: growth of one million vehicle sales, reach eight per cent operating profit margin and zero debt.

Mr Daphne has been managing director of Nissan Australia since August 1991. In 1992 he oversaw the recovery of Nissan Australia following the closure of vehicle manufacturing in Australia.

Mr Shiga has asked Mr Daphne to support Mr Hannya through to the end of the Nissan 180 period, which will finish on September 30, 2005.