When Christian Meunier was fired as CEO of Jeep in 2023 by the Stellantis Group, he was labeled "too bad for his job."
Now, he’s been handed the monumental task of turning around Nissan, a brand facing its own challenges.
The crisis-hit Japanese automaker is reportedly days away from announcing Meunier’s appointment, according to Automotive News.
New Leadership, New Challenges
Meunier is expected to replace Jérémie Papin as President of Nissan Americas, giving him oversight of both the Nissan and Infiniti brands across North and South America.
Papin, in turn, is slated to be promoted to Nissan’s CFO, replacing Stephen Ma.
These changes could take effect as early as January 1, with further restructuring possibly on the horizon.
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The stakes are high.
Nissan sold 834,097 vehicles in the U.S. last year—nearly 300,000 fewer than a decade ago, marking a 26.3% decline.
Infiniti’s situation is even bleaker, with sales plummeting 43% over the same period.
Struggles and Partnerships
Nissan’s challenges have led the company to forge a partnership with Honda, with reports suggesting that Nissan may soon buy a stake in its former competitor. An official announcement could come as early as next month, signaling another major shake-up for the industry.
Nissan isn’t alone in its turbulence. The automotive sector is undergoing massive changes, with leadership and design departments experiencing a flurry of reshuffles.
For Meunier, this new role presents a chance at redemption.
