Nissan Appoints Thierry Sabbagh as India President for Brand Resurgence

Japanese automaker Nissan has today announced a set of senior leadership changes across its Africa, Middle East, India, Europe and Oceania (AMIEO) region, with India placed firmly within the company’s near-term focus.

The information shared by the company highlights that from January 1st 2026, Thierry Sabbagh will take on additional responsibility for Nissan India, alongside his existing role in the Middle East, KSA and CIS markets. He has been appointed Divisional Vice President and President for Nissan and Infiniti across these regions. Nissan stated that this move is intended to ensure leadership continuity while strengthening governance and execution in India, which is being treated as a priority market within the AMIEO structure.

The company stated that the leadership reshuffle is aligned with the rollout of its 'Re:Nissan' transformation plan, aimed at improving operational efficiency and decision-making speed, while remaining aligned with customer requirements across different markets. India is expected to play a central role in Nissan’s plans for 2026. Over the next 14 to 16 months, the company is set to introduce three new models, including the Gravite, Tekton and a new purpose built 7-seater C-segment SUV. Alongside the product rollout, Nissan is also working on expanding its dealer network, with a target of 250 customer touchpoints across the country.

As part of the changes, Nissan also confirmed that Leon Dorssers will step down from his position as Senior Vice President and Chief of Commercial Operations for Nissan AMIEO. Dorssers joined Nissan in 1992 and has held leadership roles across Europe, the Americas and Japan, before taking charge of marketing and sales for the AMIEO region in 2021.

Saurabh Vatsa, Managing Director, Nissan Motor India, said: “This is a significant moment for Nissan in India as we enter a new phase of growth. Having Thierry on board reinforces our confidence in the path ahead, and his experience and leadership will be instrumental in strengthening our market presence and delivering even greater value to our customers. This appointment further strengthens our leadership as we move from transformation to execution, with a clear focus on products, customers and sustainable growth.”