Bader El Houssami has joined Nissan Saudi Arabia as Chief Operating Officer, effective July 1. Based in Jeddah, Bader takes over responsibility for Nissan's day-to-day operational functions as the company continues to consolidate its robust position within the Kingdom's fiercely competitive automotive market. A graduate in Business Studies specializing in marketing from Beirut University College in his native Lebanon, 48-year-old Bader has an impressive track record in the automotive industry and a wealth of experience in the Kingdom itself. His appointment comes at a time when the Saudi market assumes ever greater significance for Nissan's Middle East business. "We are delighted to have secured the services of Bader for Nissan here in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia," said Kalyana, Sivagnanam, Nissan's Regional Vice President, Marketing and Sales for the Africa, Middle East, and India region. "Bader's CV and track record in the industry speak for themselves and we are confident that he will make a significant contribution to maintaining Nissan KSA on its current trajectory of continued sales growth, excellent customer satisfaction levels and a high degree of motivation within our highly trained workforce. His considerable experience of successfully managing people, combined with the breadth of his knowledge and hands-on experience within the industry made him the standout candidate for this challenging position." Bader gained much of his experience in both the Kingdom and the wider Gulf region with General Motors, including most lately as head of operations at MEBCO Middle East and Africa, a joint venture manufacturing batteries for GM's ACDelco brand in Dammam. Based in the same city in his new role, Bader will seek to strengthen Nissan's network, further improve customer satisfaction levels and ensure continued sales growth in the key Saudi market in order to contribute to the carmaker's regional Mid Term Plan. He will be helped in this task by his product retail knowledge and experience gained with GM while based in Dubai as Regional Manager for Vehicle Sales in the Middle East. Further senior level experience in parts, aftersales and servicing positions help complete the picture of an automotive executive with a 360-degree view and understanding of the industry's operational functions. "Joining Nissan in this position marks a very exciting moment in both my professional career and personal life and I am very much looking forward to getting started in my new role," said Bader. "Nissan's operations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are complex and varied. My job will be to ensure that we, as a company within the Kingdom, continue to perform at the top of our game, always pushing to achieve more. However, my role really is helped by the fact that we have an outstanding product line-up, and one that I'm immensely proud to be associated with." Bader will report to Kalyana Sivagnanam, Nissan's Regional Vice President, Marketing and Sales for the Africa, Middle East, and India region and additionally President of Nissan Middle East. — SG
