Andy Palmer Steps Down From Nissan, Becomes CEO For Aston Martin

Since the end of 2013, Aston Martin has been without a CEO and the automaker has been on the hunt for one since. But now, the British sports car maker has found one. In a statement released today, Aston Martin has announced that Andy Palmer of Nissan is the company's new CEO.

"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," said Aston Martin in a statement.

Palmer has been with Nissan for many years, and was most recently the company's Chief Planning Officer and chairman of Infiniti. Taking Palmer's place as CPO is Philippe Klein, who is currently the head of product planning at Renault.

Source: Aston Martin

Press Release is on Page 2

Andrew Palmer is the New CEO of Aston Martin

Gaydon, UK; 2nd September 2014: Aston Martin Lagonda ("Aston Martin") is pleased to announce that Aston Martin will appoint Andrew Palmer as its new Chief Executive Officer to lead the company in its next phase of technology and product creation. Dr Palmer, 51, will join Aston Martin from Nissan Motor Corporation where he served as Chief Planning Officer. Palmer will assume operational responsibility for all aspects of the business.

'Andy' Palmer CMG is a British-born chartered engineer, chartered manager and businessman with 35 years of automotive industry experience. 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. Palmer also served as Chairman of Infiniti.

Palmer's duties at Aston Martin will commence after he completes a transition period from his current employer.

Palmer started his professional career in 1979 aged 16, as an apprentice at Automotive Products Limited (UK). In 1986 he joined Austin Rover to eventually become Transmissions Chief Engineer of Rover Group. Palmer joined Nissan in 1991 and was based in Japan for the past 13 years.

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 CMO's) by the CMO Influence Study, conducted by marketing firm Appinions for Forbes magazine. Furthermore, among Interbrand's Best Global Green Brands 2013, Nissan claimed the fifth position with Palmer being credited with "elevating marketing to a science." 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 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."