Nissan announces senior management changes
Nissan will reshuffle senior design leadership in October 2026, with Alfonso Albaisa retiring and Matthew Weaver taking over as Corporate Executive, Global Design.
Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. announced that Alfonso Albaisa, Corporate Executive for Global Design, will leave his role on October 1, 2026, transitioning to an advisory position until his retirement on December 31, 2026. Albaisa is credited with shaping Nissan’s global design identity and strengthening the brand’s reputation worldwide. The company expressed gratitude for his three-decade career contributions. His departure marks the end of an era for Nissan’s design leadership.
Matthew Weaver, currently Senior Design Director, will succeed Albaisa as Corporate Executive, Global Design, effective October 1, 2026. Weaver, who joined Nissan in 2001, has led design work on models such as the Qashqai and Juke across Europe and Japan. His experience spans Infiniti, partnership projects, and light commercial vehicle programs, positioning him to oversee Nissan’s global design strategy under CEO Ivan Espinosa.
The transition will include a three-month overlap period, during which Albaisa and Weaver will collaborate to ensure continuity in design operations. This structured handover aims to maintain stability in Nissan’s design direction as the new leadership takes shape. The company emphasized the importance of seamless knowledge transfer during this period.
The changes reflect Nissan’s ongoing efforts to refresh its executive team ahead of strategic initiatives planned for the coming years. Weaver’s appointment underscores the company’s confidence in internal talent to drive future design innovation while preserving established design principles established under Albaisa’s leadership.