Nissan taps Mayra Gonzalez for trailblazing role

NASHVILLE -- Nissan has promoted Mayra Gonzalez, the automaker's sales boss in Mexico, to president of the unit, making her the first woman to lead a Nissan Group country operation.

Gonzalez, 39, will assume her new role on July 1. On that day, current Nissan Mexicana President Airton Cousseau, 50, becomes vice president of Nissan's Chinese affiliate Dongfeng Motor Co. and managing director of Dongfeng Nissan Passenger Vehicle Co.

As a team, Cousseau and Gonzalez have led Nissan to a 26 percent market share in Mexico – the automaker’s largest share of any world market. Mexico has become a focal point for Nissan globally, as managers from the around the world come for ideas on how to grow market share in their own countries.

Gonzalez was the author of Nissan's "Dealers Standards Improvement" plan, a program aimed at creating more-effective dealers and upgrading facilities. The plan has been adopted by Nissan sales companies in other countries.

The two new assignments, announced late Monday by Nissan North America Chairman Jose Munoz, reward two executives who have sustained the automaker's success in the Mexico market, started there by Munoz himself.

Cousseau has helped Nissan Mexicana deliver 83 consecutive months of market share leadership, the company said.

"His results have been nothing short of extraordinary," Munoz said in a statement. "We expect that he will transfer his leadership talents to China and provide Dongfeng with strong performance as they work to attain their full potential."

The statement said that Cousseau now will be tasked with developing and growing the dealership network in China, where he will report to Jun Seki, president of Dongfeng Motor.

Cousseau came to Nissan after stints with General Motors in Brazil and Detroit, and serving as executive director of Hyundai Motor in Brazil.

Gonzalez was spotlighted last month as an Automotive News Rising Star. She said at the time that she was focused on improving Nissan's customer satisfaction results in Mexico and on helping to export Nissan's Mexico successes to other markets.

Said Munoz: "Gonzalez has proven to be an effective and gifted executive during her time in Nissan Mexico."