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Nissan's Chief U.S. Designer Appointed to the Board

31 August 1999

Nissan's Chief U.S. Designer Appointed to the Board; Jerry Hirshberg Appointed to Nissan's Board of Directors

    GARDENA, Calif., Aug. 31 -- Today Nissan North America, Inc.
(NNA) formally announced the appointment of Gerald P. Hirshberg, president of
Nissan Design International (NDI), to its Board of Directors.  Hirshberg's
appointment makes him the first designer to sit on the NNA Board, bringing a
new and insightful perspective to the eight-member team.
    As a key figure in the management of a select group of designers,
engineers and sculptors for NDI, his primary task is to "internationalize" the
design thinking of Nissan.  In addition to his role as NDI president,
Hirshberg's added responsibility as a Board member includes overseeing the
management of the NNA group of companies.
    Under Hirshberg's direction, NDI produced the first Nissan Pathfinder SUV,
newly introduced Xterra SUV, Altima, Maxima, Pulsar NX and Quest minivan and
the Infiniti J30.  In addition, Hirshberg's team has also designed computer
concepts for Apple and Motorola, golf clubs for Taylor Made, medical
instruments, ski-boots, yachts and pre-school daycare furniture for an
international list of clients.  NDI's latest non-automotive projects include
the redesign of the Los Angeles Times Newspaper and the design of a mechanical
exercise device for cheetahs at the San Diego Wild Animal Park.
    Hirshberg has lectured on subjects ranging from design and automobiles, to
public art and creativity in business at such universities as Harvard,
Berkeley, Stanford, UCLA and Brown, and has also addressed a variety of
professional organizations and audiences worldwide.
    Hirshberg also wrote a book on creativity in business titled The Creative
Priority: Driving Innovative Business in the Real World.  Along with being a
designer, Hirshberg is a consummate painter and classical musician.  Most
recently, Hirshberg is serving as the company's on-camera spokesperson,
starring in a series of television commercials for Nissan's 2000 model year
vehicles.
    In North America, Nissan's operations include styling, engineering,
consumer and corporate financing, sales and marketing, distribution and
manufacturing.  Nissan in North America, which includes employees and
facilities in the United States, Canada and Mexico, generates more than 90,000
jobs, approximately 20,000 directly and over 71,000 through approximately
1,500 Nissan and Infiniti retailers across the continent.  More information on
Nissan in North America and the complete line of Nissan and Infiniti vehicles
can be found online at http://www.nissandriven.com or contact the corporate media
line at 310-771-5631.
    Visit the Nissan Online News Bureau at http://www.nissannews.com.