Nissan has announced a major change in its senior marketing leadership for the U.S. market. Allyson Witherspoon is reassuming the role of U.S. chief marketing officer for the Nissan brand, effective immediately. She replaces Marisstella Marinkovic, who recently left the company.
Witherspoon will continue to serve as corporate vice president of global marketing, brand, and merchandising at Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. in Yokohama, Japan, while taking on the additional U.S. responsibilities. She previously held the U.S. position from April 2019 to March 2023.
For her U.S. duties, Witherspoon will report to Vinay Shahani, senior vice president of Nissan U.S. marketing and sales.
Nissan’s U.S. marketing leadership change
“We’re fortunate to have Allyson rejoining the U.S. leadership team, which puts us in a strong position to make rapid progress in our efforts to transform Nissan’s image in this critical market for the company,” said Shahani in a statement.
He also thanked Marinkovic for her contributions during her time with Nissan and wished her the best in her future endeavors. Marinkovic joined Nissan in March 2023 after a three-and-a-half-year stint at Kia Motor America, where she served as the director of marketing operations and strategy. She confirmed her departure from Nissan on November 15 but did not disclose her future plans.
During her time at Nissan, Marinkovic was credited with boosting sales among millennials and launching a successful data-driven retail program with high conquest rates. The leadership change comes as Nissan seeks to strengthen its market presence and brand image in the United States, which is a crucial market for the automaker. With Witherspoon’s return to the U.S. team, Nissan aims to accelerate its efforts in transforming its image and positioning itself for success in the competitive automotive industry.
