Aston Martin Lagonda has announced Nissan’s chief planning officer, Andy Palmer, is to be its new chief executive officer.
The Gaydon-based luxury car-maker said the 51-year-old would be responsible for all aspects of the business and “lead the company in its next phase of technology and product creation”.
Dr Palmer, a British-born chartered engineer, chartered manager and businessman with 35 years experience in the automotive industry, replaces Dr Ulrich Bez in the top role.
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A statement from the shareholder board of 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.”
In his most recent role Mr Palmer was chief planning officer, executive vice president and member of the executive committee of Nissan Motor Company, reporting directly to the president and CEO.
His responsibilities included corporate and product planning, program management, electric vehicles, global marketing communications, global sales and IS/IT. Mr Palmer also served as chairman of Nissan’s upmarket offshoot brand Infiniti.
His CEO duties at Aston Martin will start after he completes a transition period from his current employer.
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Mr Palmer started his professional career in 1979 aged 16, as an apprentice at Automotive Products Limited (海角视频).
In 1986 he joined Austin Rover to eventually become transmissions chief engineer of Rover Group.
He joined Nissan in 1991 and has been based in Japan for the last 13 years.
In 2012, Mr 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 CMO’s) by the CMO Influence Study, conducted for Forbes magazine.
Mr Palmer was appointed Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in the 2014 New Year Honours List for services to the British automotive industry.