Nissan Americas Names Michele Tinson Director, Internal Communications And Media Center

FRANKLIN, TN--Sept. 6, 2012: Nissan Americas today announced that Michele Tinson has been named director, internal communications and media center, effective Sept. 10. Most recently, Tinson was director of communications for Saab Cars North America, where she was responsible for internal and external communications for the automaker.

Tinson will report to David Reuter, vice president, corporate communications, Nissan Americas, and will be responsible for aligning employee communications efforts across the Americas. She also will oversee the Nissan media center team, which develops collateral support materials to enhance telling the Nissan story to both internal and external audiences.

"Michele Tinson brings a wealth of experience to the Nissan Americas communications team that will help us as we launch five new vehicles in 15 months and share our story around significant growth and investment throughout the Americas region," said Reuter. "As we continue to bolster the Nissan communications function, Michele's expertise in employee communications, media relations and manufacturing communications will further enhance Nissan's reputation with constituent audiences."

Tinson, 42, brings more than 20 years of communications experience to the assignment, having held diverse roles at Saab, Continental Automotive Safety Systems, Chrysler and the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE).

Tinson began her career in 1992 at SAE managing student relations and special programs. In 1996, she moved to the public relations firm, Golin Harris, to manage safety and regulatory affairs and legal public relations for Chrysler and in 2000 became a direct member of the Chrysler communications staff. Over the next eight years Tinson held a variety of assignments with increasing responsibilities at Chrysler including regional manager and press fleet coordinator; manager of government affairs, diversity and HR communications; manufacturing special projects; engineering and telematics communications; and senior manager of internal and external manufacturing and labor communications, where she was responsible for communications activities for the executive vice president of manufacturing and 31 manufacturing facilities in North America. In 2008 she was named director, corporate communications, for Continental Automotive Safety Systems' Powertrain and Safety divisions and in 2010 was appointed director of communications for Saab Cars North America.

A Michigan native, Tinson holds a bachelor of arts degree with dual concentrations in English and communications from Albion College in Albion, Mich.