Nissan North America
ORG
Nissan Nissan North America Nissan Motor Company
The Nissan Motor Company said that its top North American sales executive was retiring. Two of the closest associates of Nissan's chief executive, Carlos Ghosn, were promoted to top positions in its North American operations. It was a sign that Mr. Ghosn, who took responsibility for Nissan's North American operations in 2005, wants his lieutenants in charge. James C. Morton, North American administration and finance chief, was moved to the newly created post of vice chairman at Nissan North America. The Nissan Motor Company said on Wednesday that its top North American sales executive was retiring, the highest-level employee to leave as the company prepares to move its American headquarters from Southern California to Tennessee. The announcements come as Nissan, which has become one of the biggest threats to American automakers, has recently had trouble maintaining momentum from its record sales of the last two years. When Nissan announced late last year that it would move to Franklin, Tenn., just outside Nashville, to save money, the news prompted concerns of a brain drain at the company. The company has said it plans to be completely moved out of its California headquarters by Aug. 1, and will have a new headquarters built in Franklin within two years.