Nissan has announced a series of senior management changes in its Africa, Middle East, India, Europe and Oceania (AMIEO) region, designed to strengthen delivery of the brand's transformation plan and enhance operational efficiency, speed and customer focus.

Effective 1 January 2026, Thierry Sabbagh’s responsibilities have been expanded to include Nissan India, as he becomes divisional vice president and president, Middle East, KSA, CIS and India – Nissan and Infiniti.

Additionally, Saurabh Vatsa has been elevated as the managing director. Vatsa was previously the deputy managing director and had joined the auto company in 2024.

Sabbagh's previous role was divisional vice president, M&S, president Middle East, KSA, CIS - Nissan and Infiniti.

The expanded scope reflects Nissan’s focus on maintaining leadership continuity across established markets while strengthening governance, execution and growth momentum in India as a strategic priority within the AMIEO region.

India is central to Nissan’s ambitions in 2026, as the brand accelerates its resurgence in the market.

Building on this momentum, Nissan India will introduce three new models over the next 14 to 16 months, including GRAVITE, TEKTON and a 7-seater C-SUV, while continuing to expand its customer reach through a growing dealer network with 250 touchpoints across the country.

Massimiliano Messina, chairperson, Nissan AMIEO, said, “The Re: Nissan plan is about transformation and customer-centricity. By empowering regional leadership, we are creating a more agile organisation that can respond quickly to market dynamics and deliver competitive, compelling products. I am confident these changes will strengthen our performance and supercharge our progress in 2026, and I wish Thierry every success in his new role.”

Vatsa added, “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.”

Sabbagh said, “I am honoured to take on this expanded role at a pivotal time for Nissan. The Middle East and India are dynamic, fast-growing and continuously evolving markets, with significant opportunities ahead. I look forward to working closely with our talented teams and partners across the region to build on our strong foundations, accelerate growth and deliver meaningful value for our customers.”