Nissan Canada President Steve Milette will depart the company’s Canadian unit Aug. 1 for a wider role at the automaker’s American head office in Tennessee, handing the reins to Trevor Longley, currently vice-president of sales operations for Nissan Canada.
After five years leading Canadian operations for the brand, Milette has been appointed vice-president of dealer network development, customer resources and training for Nissan U.S. and Canada. He will be responsible for maintaining dealer network representation for the Nissan and Infiniti brands in both countries, as well as managing customer resource operations and training responsibilities for dealership employees in the United States.
Milette, who was the first Canadian to lead the brand in Canada, will be based at Nissan’s regional headquarters in Franklin, Tenn. for the new role. He will report to Vinay Shahani, senior vice-president of U.S. marketing and sales.
Jeremie Papin, chairperson for Nissan Americas, said Milette has been “a catalyst for change to the benefit of employees, dealers and customers within the Canadian organization” and wider company throughout his five-year tenure as president.
“I'm delighted to see Steve bring his leadership to the Americas' headquarters and continue to grow his career,” Papin said in a release.
Trevor Longley will succeed Milette as president at the start of August. He will continue to be based at Nissan Canada’s headquarters in Mississauga, while reporting into Papin.
Papin said Longley, who joined the company in 2016, has been a “key figure” in improving the brand’s relationship with Canadian dealers.
“[His] natural leadership ability, strong experience in several key positions and deep knowledge of the Canadian market will be essential to the company growth."
Longley will oversee all Nissan and Infiniti operations in Canada in his new role.
The company said it will name a replacement for Longley's role in sales operations later.
