Aston Martin brings in Nissan man as new chief executive

WEST Midlands-based luxury carmaker Aston Martin has hired senior Nissan executive Andy Palmer as its new chief executive.

The firm has been without a chief executive since Ulrich Bez stepped down in November.

Dr Palmer, 51, will take over at Aston “after he completes a transition period from his current employer”.

He is a UK-born chartered engineer who has spent 35 years in the automotive industry, starting as an apprentice at Automotive Products and then moving to Austin Rover.

Palmer joined Nissan in 1991 and has been based in Japan for the past 13 years. He is currently its chief planning officer.

In 2012, Palmer was named the automotive industry’s most influential British executive by Auto Express, and in 2013, the world’s third most influential chief marketing officer (after Apple and Samsung CMOs) by the CMO Influence Study, conducted by marketing firm Appinions for Forbes magazine.

Palmer was appointed Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in the 2014 New Year Honours for services to the British automotive industry.

A statement from Aston Martin said, “We’re delighted that Andy will join us as our new CEO at this important time at Aston Martin.

“Andy’s wealth of experience on the global automotive stage in marketing and sales, engineering and technology, and luxury and brand management will be instrumental in taking Aston Martin forward through its most significant and ambitious period of investment to date.”

Aston Martin recently announced it is investing about £500m, including more than £20m to extend its manufacturing facility at Gaydon in Warwickshire.

Germany’s Daimler owns 5% of Aston Martin, but its three big shareholders are Kuwait’s Investment Dar and Adeem Investment, and Italian private-equity firm Investindustrial.

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