Nissan (Nasdaq:NSANY) today announced a change to its senior leadership team in North America. Jim Morton, Vice Chairman for Nissan North America, has decided to retire, effective April 1, 2007. He will continue to serve the company as Senior Advisor for Government Affairs on a contract basis. Scott Becker, Vice President of Legal for Nissan North America, will take over Morton’s responsibilities for government affairs. The Vice Chairman’s position will be vacated.
Immediately prior to being named vice chairman on July 1, 2006, Morton was senior vice president, administration and finance for NNA. In this function, he oversaw all finance, legal, human resources, business strategy, corporate communications, captive finance, security, corporate aviation and audit for Nissan's North American operations.
He is a member of the NNA Board of Directors; Management Committee Americas (MC-A), the key decision making body for Nissan in North, Central and South America; and the U.S. Management Committee (MC-US).
He is also a member of the Board of Trustees for the National Urban League, Chairman of the Association of International Automobile Manufacturers (AIAM), a member of the Advisory Committee for the Trent Lott Leadership Institute at the University of Mississippi and the Advisory Committee for the Hollings Cancer Center at the Medical University of South Carolina. He will keep an active role with the National Urban League and the two advisory committees.
“I appreciate Jim’s hard work, commitment and significant contributions to Nissan’s organization during his years of service, and we’re looking forward to his continued contributions in his new role,” said Carlos Ghosn, President and CEO of Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. “I know that everyone at Nissan wishes him and his family the best in the future.”
Morton joined Nissan in May 2000. Prior to that, he held a variety of positions with Michelin North America, Inc., which he joined in 1976. From 1996 until his departure, he held the position of vice president, public relations and government affairs. Before that, he served as executive director of external relations and held other positions in the company's public relations, governmental affairs and legal operations.
While at Michelin, Morton's external activities included serving as vice chairman, South Carolina Ports Authority; chairman of the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce and as a member of the Board of Directors of the Rubber Manufacturers Association.
Prior to joining Michelin, Morton worked for Arthur Andersen & Company and General Dynamics Corporation in various tax accounting and legal positions.
Morton holds an undergraduate degree in economics from Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri, and was awarded his juris doctorate at the University of Missouri - Columbia. He received an Alumni Achievement Award from Westminster College in 2003.
In North America, Nissan's operations include automotive styling, engineering, consumer and corporate financing, sales and marketing, distribution and manufacturing. More information on Nissan in North America and the complete line of Nissan and Infiniti vehicles can be found online at www.NissanUSA.com and www.infiniti.com.
