Infiniti CEO Johan de Nysschen departs after two years in post
Johan de Nysschen has resigned as president of Infiniti, ending a two-year tenure marked by global expansion plans and a major move to Hong Kong.
Johan de Nysschen has resigned as CEO of Infiniti after just two years, with Nissan confirming the departure to staff in July 2014. Andy Palmer, Nissan’s chief planning officer, has stepped in as interim leader of the luxury brand.
De Nysschen, who joined Infiniti in 2012 after nearly two decades at Audi, was brought in to expand the Japanese marque’s global presence. During his time at Audi’s US division, he was credited with raising sales by over 40 percent between 2005 and 2011. His move to Infiniti was part of Nissan’s strategy to challenge established premium brands and strengthen its position in markets beyond Japan and North America.
At Infiniti, de Nysschen oversaw a period of ambitious growth planning. The company relocated its global headquarters from Japan to Hong Kong, a decision aimed at sharpening its focus on the Chinese market. Production plans were announced for new facilities in the UK, Mexico and China, underlining Infiniti’s intention to become a truly global premium brand.
Leadership transition and future direction
Following de Nysschen’s departure, Andy Palmer, already responsible for Nissan’s global product planning and previously overseeing Infiniti, has taken interim charge. Palmer’s appointment is expected to provide continuity as Infiniti moves ahead with its expansion, especially with production in China due to start soon.
De Nysschen’s exit comes at a critical time. Infiniti’s efforts to break into new markets and ramp up local production have yet to deliver the scale of sales seen by rivals such as Lexus or Audi. The brand’s first Chinese-built cars were set to roll out shortly after his resignation, with the Hong Kong move intended to bring Infiniti closer to the world’s largest car market.
De Nysschen’s next move
At the time of his resignation, media reports indicated de Nysschen was in talks to join General Motors as head of Cadillac, though neither party confirmed the negotiations. Days after his departure from Infiniti, General Motors announced de Nysschen’s appointment as president of Cadillac, marking a return to the US luxury sector for the South African executive.
Infiniti has not announced a permanent replacement for de Nysschen. The company’s global strategy, including its expanded manufacturing footprint and push into China, remains in place under Palmer’s interim leadership.
For Infiniti’s workforce and dealers, the change in leadership introduces a period of uncertainty, but the brand’s expansion plans and new product launches are expected to continue as scheduled.
