Nissan has announced significant leadership changes across its Africa, Middle East, India, Europe and Oceania region, with Thierry Sabbagh assuming an expanded role that now includes oversight of the Indian market.
Effective January 1, 2026, Sabbagh has been appointed Divisional Vice President and President for Middle East, KSA, CIS and India, covering both Nissan and Infiniti brands. The appointment forms part of Nissan’s Re:Nissan transformation plan aimed at improving operational efficiency and customer focus.
India represents a strategic priority for the Japanese automaker in 2026. The company plans to introduce three new models to the market over the next 14 to 16 months, including the GRAVITE, TEKTON and a seven-seater C-SUV. The product offensive comes as Nissan expands its distribution network to 250 touchpoints across India.
Massimiliano Messina, Nissan AMIEO Chairperson, emphasized the restructuring reflects the company’s push toward greater organizational agility. “By empowering regional leadership, we are creating a more agile organization that can respond quickly to market dynamics and deliver competitive, compelling products,” Messina stated.
Sabbagh acknowledged the growth potential in his expanded territories. “The Middle East and India are dynamic, fast-growing and continuously evolving markets, with significant opportunities ahead,” he said.
Saurabh Vatsa, Managing Director of Nissan Motor India, described the appointment as marking a new growth phase for the brand’s Indian operations. He indicated the leadership change would strengthen market presence as the company transitions from transformation to execution.
The announcement coincides with the departure of Leon Dorssers, Senior Vice President and Chief of Commercial Operations for AMIEO, who joined Nissan in 1992 and held various leadership positions across multiple regions before his latest role.
Nissan completed several product launches across the AMIEO region in 2025 and has signaled additional products and technologies are planned for release in 2026.