Thomas takes on senior role in Nissan

JAPANESE car maker Nissan has appointed a Welshman to one of its most senior roles in Europe.

Simon Thomas, who is vice president for sales and marketing for the Nissan and Infiniti brands in Nissan Canada, has been promoted to succeed Christian Meunier, who will become vice president of model line marketing for Nissan North America.

Mr Thomas, 46, was born in Mid Wales and is married with a son and daughter.

He went to Knighton Primary School before going to John Beddoes secondary school, Presteigne. He also attended Newtown College, where he studied engineering skills training.

He left school at the age of 16 to start a technician apprenticeship at a Ford dealership in Weston-super-Mare and then moved to an Austin Rover dealership in the town, working his way up to workshop foreman and controller.

In 1985 he joined Austin Rover Group as a technician and advanced his career to senior manager, including a spell as North Wales zone sales manager, before leaving after seven years for Nissan.

He started with Nissan Motor (GB) in 1991 as an area sales manager. He was appointed assistant regional manager, Northern England and Scotland in 1992, where he spent three years before taking on the position of manager of marketing planning in 1994.

After three years in marketing, he was promoted to general manager southern region operations.

From January 2000 he became the general manger of dealer operations.

He was appointed marketing director of Nissan Motor (GB) in October 2000 and then sales director in 2003 before moving to his current post in Canada.

In his new role, Mr Thomas will oversee sales operations in more than 30 countries across Europe, reporting directly to Brian Carolin, senior vice president of sales and marketing.

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