Nissan GB

ANDY PALMER RECEIVES HONORARY DOCTORATE OF TECHNOLOGY

• Nissan senior executive accepts Honorary doctorate (DTech) from Coventry University
• Recognition for ‘major contribution to the automotive industry'
• Honoured by city where career started

Andy Palmer, senior vice president, Nissan Motor Company has received an honorary doctorate of Technology from Coventry University in recognition of his major contribution to the automotive industry, and specifically his leading role in the development of Nissan in recent years.

Andy Palmer is senior vice president and executive committee member at Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. Japan, with specific responsibilities for Nissan's corporate planning, product planning & program management; global marketing communications; market intelligence, global IS/IT; global LCV, Infiniti, vehicle informatics, battery, zero emission & OEM business units.

Commenting at the graduation ceremony held at Coventry Cathedral, Andy Palmer said "It is with great humility that I accept the Honorary Doctorate.   As a 16 year old Coventry apprentice, I would never have dreamed of being awarded this honour.   It would not have been possible without the stewardship of key mentors in my career, nor without the dedication and support of the people who have worked around me. I thank Coventry University for considering me, my family for their support over the years and to all the people of Nissan who have guided and helped me.   I would therefore dedicate the award to my family and all Nissan employees and thank you all sincerely".

Palmer joined Nissan in 1991 as business administration manager at the Nissan Technical Centre Europe (NTCE) and ultimately became deputy managing director of NTCE in 2001 after managing many technical functions within the company. In September 2002, he transferred to Japan as programme director for light commercial vehicles (LCV).

Palmer is 47 and married with four children.

Note to editors:

In 2003, Palmer was appointed President of Nissan Motor Light Trucks Co., Ltd., while retaining his duties as programme director.  Nissan Motor Light Trucks, located in, Omiya,Japan, is responsible for vehicle development of Nissan's global light duty trucks. He continues to hold this position today.

In April 2004, Palmer established the LCV business unit within Nissan and in April 2005, he was promoted to corporate vice president in charge of the unit.. The LCV business was identified as one of four breakthroughs under Nissan's three-year Value-Up business plan. Under that plan, Nissan has achieved an increase in global LCV sales above 40% (achieving in excess of 500,000 units) and more than doubled its consolidated operating profit margin to above 8% by fiscal year 2007.  2010 will see a volume around 750,000 units as growth continues.

In February 2009, Palmer was appointed senior vice president and a member of Nissan's executive committee.   In October 2010, his scope of responsibility was extended to include global marketing, brand and communications, with a mandate to improve the Nissan Brand Value through the mid-term.

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Nissan in the UK

• Nissan Sunderland Plant has a workforce of 4,900
• Juke, Note, Qashqai and Qashqai+2 are all produced at Sunderland Plant
• UK is Nissan's biggest market in Europe
• Over 80 per cent of production is exported to 45 markets worldwide
• NMUK has been named as the biggest UK car plant for the past 12 years
• Sunderland Plant won a Queen's Award for Export, the fourth received since the plant opened in 1986
• The plant built its 5 millionth car in June 2008
• Sunderland Plant's 2009 calendar year volume totalled 338,150 units
• Nissan's European design centre is located in Paddington, London and employs around 50 people
• Nissan's European Technical Centre is based in Cranfield, Bedfordshire and employs around 750 people

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