Sherief Eldessouky & Mike Whitfield
If you’re a Nissan driver or perhaps have been wanting to purchase one of Nissan’s high-quality passenger, SUV, commercial or 4X4 vehicles, then you’ll be excited to hear about recent leadership changes to Nissan Africa’s team, which are set to boost operations on the continent.
The appointments, which took effect on 1 April, are part of a series of changes and consolidations aimed at unlocking the potential of the African market. A strong new management team is set to drive forward the company’s mid-term plans in Africa, help find solutions that the local market needs and grow market share on the continent.
Driving Africa Forward
The new Managing Director of Nissan Africa, is Sherief Eldessouky. He has replaced Mike Whitfield, who has now taken on the role of Group Strategic Adviser for Policies, Political Affairs and External Relations. Mohamed Samad is now the country director for Nissan Egypt, while Kabelo Rabotho remains the country director for Nissan South Africa. Maciej Klenkiewicz, currently Managing Director RBU Central Eastern Europe (CEE), has also expanded his current scope to include Independent Markets Africa.
Leading the way, Eldessouky says that their job as a management team is to, “bring more wealth and value to the region, which already has promising automotive growth opportunities”.
Whitfield, who established Nissan Africa as a regional business unit in 2020, is also thrilled with his new opportunity as Group Strategic Advisor. “Africa is a key market with an unmatched growth potential and the way we unlock that will be through a combination of intelligent mobility solutions and creating a coalition of willing countries to develop a thriving and sustainable automotive manufacturing industry.”
Joni Paiva, who was recently appointed as Africa president, said the move signals the importance of Africa to Nissan globally.
Nissan’s Future In Africa Is Bright
Nissan already has a commercial and industrial presence in South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Egypt, and Ghana, as well as production facilities and plants in many of these countries. The company also has over 10 percent market share in Africa and South Africa, as well as 14 percent in Egypt.
The news bodes well for Group1 Nissan as a business, being one of only 15 Nissan Megadealers in South Africa with showrooms in Gauteng, the Western Cape and Eastern Cape provinces of South Africa. Group1 also boasts one of the largest ranges of new and used Nissan vehicles in South Africa.
