Nissan Australia Announces Appointment of William Peffer, CEO & Managing Director

VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA – Feb 15, 2012: Nissan Australia today confirmed the appointment of William (Bill) Peffer as CEO and Managing Director, effective April 1, 2012.

Currently Director, Marketing Communications and Media at Nissan North America (NNA), Peffer succeeds Dan Thompson who is moving to a new role in Europe. Thompson is appointed Vice President, Finance, Nissan Europe based at Nissan’s European HQ in Rolle, Switzerland.

Under Thompson’s leadership , the team has delivered Nissan as one of Australia’s fastest growing brands -the past two years, established the Company’s successful captive and integrated finance company (Nissan Financial Services Australia) in 2008, solidified Nissan Casting’s future viability for production in Australia through multi-million dollar new global contracts for the Nissan LEAF, the world’s first mass market 100% pure electric vehicle, and - completed the final preparation for the launch of Nissan’s luxury automotive brand, INFINITI, later this year. The success of Nissan over the past four years can be contributed to a revitalized organization focused on demanding top level customer service throughout the Nissan organization and dealer network throughout Australia.

Since joining Nissan in 2006, Bill Peffer has demonstrated ability cross functionally in sales and marketing to manage large teams in challenging positions. He brings extensive knowledge and expertise in Sales, Product & Marketing operations. Prior to Nissan, Bill worked at Ford Motor Company for 13 years, primarily in their North American sales operaions.

Peffer holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Advertising Communications from Michigan State University, and a Master’s Degree in International Finance from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business.

With Bill’s lengthy and extensive background across every discipline within Sales, Product and Marketing, Thompson is confident - NISSAN and INFINITI will deliver great success in the future consistent with the organization’s current mid-term plan GT2012 to achieve Australia’s #1 importer status by early 2013.