A leadership transition marks a key moment for Nissan’s regional strategy as the company strengthens its focus on the New Zealand market. He began transitioning into the Auckland-based role on April 1 and will report to Steve Milette, Managing Director of Nissan Oceania.
Padmanabhan brings over 20 years of experience in the automotive industry, with expertise across sales, network development, marketing, and corporate strategy. His appointment comes at a crucial time as Nissan looks to strengthen its presence in the New Zealand market.
In his new role as Country Head and Director at Nissan New Zealand, he will oversee full P&L delivery, dealer network performance, and brand growth across the market. He will also serve as a member of the Nissan Oceania Management Committee.
Previously, he led a business transformation program at Nissan Motor India, focusing on complexity reduction and supporting multiple new product launches. This played a key role in advancing the company’s future-ready strategy.
Earlier, as Director of Marketing and Customer Experience for Nissan Oceania, he helped shape the “Defy Ordinary” brand direction and led key product launches across the region.
His career also includes leadership roles at Ford Motor Company, where he worked across Oceania, Asia Pacific, Europe, and emerging markets. During this time, he built strong expertise in dealer network development, brand strategy, and global marketing operations.
Padmanabhan succeeds Jenni Martin, who has stepped down after leading Nissan New Zealand.
Welcoming the appointment, Milette said Padmanabhan is a proven automotive leader with strong experience across brand, commercial, and dealer network development, and expressed confidence in his ability to strengthen Nissan’s position in New Zealand.
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