HONG KONG - Toshihiro Hirai has been appointed INFINITI's new Program Director & Global Head of Program Management, effective April 1. In this role, he is responsible for planning and executing all future vehicle programs for INFINITI. Hirai is based at INFINITI's global technical center in Atsugi, Japan.
"We continue to transform INFINITI so we can grow further within the premium automotive market," said Johan de Nysschen, President, INFINITI Motor Company Ltd. "It is paramount that we launch our new products on time, with the right volume and at the quality levels that premium customers expect and deserve. Hirai-san's global experience and his track record in Engineering and Program Management will be great assets on our journey."
Hirai is a highly experienced proven global Engineering leader starting his career as a powertrain engineer at Nissan. As of 1993, he gained international experience from an assignment at the company's European engineering center in Cranfield, UK, where he expanded into product engineering. Upon his return to Japan in 1996, he was named Chief Powertrain Engineer for a joint Nissan – Renault engine program.
He subsequently held a number of senior leadership positions in Engineering and Program Management such as General Manager, Powertrain Engineering; Powertrain Program Director; and most recently Program Director for highly successful platform used for vehicles such as the highly successful Nissan Qashqai and X-Trail.
Hirai is a Japanese citizen. He has a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Waseda University in Japan.
About INFINITI:
- INFINITI, the premium automotive brand, reflects its brand promise "Inspired Performance" with a model line-up of saloons, coupés, SUVs and crossovers featuring exhilarating performance, emotive design and cutting edge technology. INFINITI continues to launch across the globe through a dedicated network of INFINITI Centres that share a commitment to exceptional hospitality throughout the entire period of ownership.
- INFINITI was launched in 1989 in the United States. INFINITI's global footprint expanded into Canada in 1990, Taiwan in 1997, the Middle East in 2004, Korea in 2005 and Russia in 2006. Global expansion continued in 2007 with INFINITI Centres opening in the Ukraine and in one of the world's fastest growing luxury automotive markets, China. In 2008 INFINITI launched in Western and Central Europe which has added 19 additional markets. INFINITI is sold globally in 47 markets to date.
- Since May 2012, INFINITI Motor Company Ltd.'s new global headquarters is situated in Hong Kong, headed by Johan de Nysschen as President of INFINITI.
- Since the 2011 season INFINITI has been a major partner of the Red Bull Racing Formula One team. The team will be known as INFINITI Red Bull Racing from the 2013 season as the relationship evolves to make INFINITI the title partner and lead technical partner with a shared engineering expertise that delivers benefits for the race track and the road. Earlier this year, three-time world champion Sebastian Vettel was appointed INFINITI's Director of Performance.
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