Andy Palmer leaves Renault-Nissan to serve as CEO of Aston Martin

Tue, 02 Sep 2014

Aston Martin has been without a helmsman since Ulrich Bez stepped down from the chief executive office at the end of last year, stepping back to serve as non-executive chairman in a semi-retired ambassadorial capacity. The British automaker, now on the cusp of a new era, has been running without a CEO since, but has now named Bez's replacement in Andy Palmer.

If you don't recognize the name, you should: Palmer has worked under the Renault-Nissan Alliance for decades now, rising through the ranks to become one of the top executives under Carlos Ghosn. Most recently he was serving as executive vice president of the entire group and chairman of the Infiniti brand, but like Carlos Tavares, who recently left Renault to run Peugeot, Palmer is now embarking on a new mission as CEO of Aston Martin.

Once the transition period is complete at the start of October, Palmer's role as Chief Planning Officer at Renault-Nissan will be assumed by Philippe Klein, who steps up from his current role as executive vice president of product planning for Renault. Read the statements from both companies below.

Andrew Palmer is the New CEO of Aston Martin

Gaydon, UK; 2nd September 2014: Aston Martin Lagonda ("Aston Martin") is pleased to announce that Aston Martin will appoint Andrew Palmer as its new Chief Executive Officer to lead the company in its next phase of technology and product creation. Dr Palmer, 51, will join Aston Martin from Nissan Motor Corporation where he served as Chief Planning Officer. Palmer will assume operational responsibility for all aspects of the business.

'Andy' Palmer CMG is a British-born chartered engineer, chartered manager and businessman with 35 years of automotive industry experience. Palmer was Chief Planning Officer, Executive Vice President and Member of the Executive Committee of Nissan Motor Company reporting directly to the President and CEO. His responsibilities included Corporate and Product Planning, Program Management, Electric Vehicles, Global Marketing Communications, Global Sales and IS/IT. Palmer also served as Chairman of Infiniti.

Palmer's duties at Aston Martin will commence after he completes a transition period from his current employer.

Palmer started his professional career in 1979 aged 16, as an apprentice at Automotive Products Limited (UK). In 1986 he joined Austin Rover to eventually become Transmissions Chief Engineer of Rover Group. Palmer joined Nissan in 1991 and was based in Japan for the past 13 years.

In 2012, Palmer was named the automotive industry's most influential British executive by Auto Express, and in 2013, the world's third most influential Chief Marketing Officer (after Apple and Samsung CMO's) by the CMO Influence Study, conducted by marketing firm Appinions for Forbes magazine. Furthermore, among Interbrand's Best Global Green Brands 2013, Nissan claimed the fifth position with Palmer being credited with "elevating marketing to a science." Palmer was appointed Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in the 2014 New Year Honours for services to the British automotive industry.

A statement from the shareholder board of Aston Martin said, "We're delighted that Andy will join us as our new CEO at this important time at Aston Martin. Andy's wealth of experience on the global automotive stage in marketing and sales, engineering and technology, and luxury and brand management will be instrumental in taking Aston Martin forward through its most significant and ambitious period of investment to date."

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Renault senior management appointments
September 02, 2014

Effective October 1, 2014, Bruno Ancelin has been named Executive Vice President, Product Planning and Programs of the Renault group. He will replace Philippe Klein. He will join the Renault Executive Committee and report to Thierry Bolloré, Chief Competitive Officer.

Also effective October 1, 2014, Jean-Christophe Kugler has been appointed Senior Vice President, Chairman of the Eurasia Region. He will replace Bruno Ancelin. The Eurasia Region has been expanded to include Turkey, Romania, Moldova and Bulgaria. Jean-Christophe Kugler will continue to report to Jérôme Stoll, Chief Performance Officer and Executive Vice President, Sales & Marketing for the Group.

Bernard Cambier has been named Senior Vice President, Chairman of the Africa-Middle East-India Region (AMI). This newly-created region includes countries in the Middle East, India and Africa.

Furthermore, Philippe Klein has been appointed Chief Planning Officer (CPLO) effective September 15, 2014. He will replace Andy Palmer, who is leaving the company. He will report to Carlos Ghosn, President and Chief Executive Officer of Nissan, and join the Nissan Executive Committee.

Born in 1957, Bruno Ancelin is Chief Engineer of the Corps des Mines. He joined Renault's Research Department in 1982. In 1987, he joined the Manufacturing Department at the Le Mans plant, first as Manager in the Transmission Department, then as Manufacturing Process Manager. In 1992, he became Industrial Strategy Manager at the Manufacturing Technologies Department. In 1996, he joined the Flins plant where he became Deputy Director in charge of Manufacturing. In 1999, he became Supply Chain Director, and in April 2006, Program Director for Mégane, Scénic/Koleos.On September 1, 2008, he was appointed to Renault's Management Committee. On May 2009, he was appointed Alliance Director of Global Sourcing for Renault Nissan BV, a position he occupied until November 1, 2011. Since October 1, 2010, Bruno Ancelin has been Senior Vice President, Chairman of Eurasia Region and Managing Director of Renault Russia (Avtoframos). In February 2012, Bruno Ancelin was appointed to the AVTOVAZ Board of Directors.

Bernard Cambier was born in 1953 and holds a Master's Degree in Private Law. After joining Renault in 1979, he held a number of different positions at Renault DIAC. He was named Branch Manager in 1990, then Regional Manager for north-eastern France in 1992. In 1994, he was appointed Director of Renault Switzerland SA, before heading the multi-brand used car project in 1997. From 1999 to 2001, he was Sales and Marketing Director for the high-end vehicle range until his appointment as Vice President, Corporate Sales in 2001. After more than three-and-a-half years as Vice President, Parts and Accessories from 2005, he joined the Renault Management Committee in 2008. He became Senior Vice President, Market Area France in 2009.

In September 2014, Bernard Cambier was appointed Chairman of the newly-created Africa-Middle East-India Region.

Born in 1957, Philippe Klein holds degrees from the Ecole Supérieure de Physique-Chimie in Paris and the Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Pétroles et Moteurs. He joined Renault's Engine Development Department in 1981. He held a number of different positions in this department until 1992, when he became Executive Assistant to the Chairman. In 1994, he joined the Powertrain Engineering Department as Head of Engine Development and Tuning, then in 1998, he joined the Vehicle Engineering Development Department as Vice President for Process Quality.

From 1999 to 2003, following the creation of the Renault-Nissan Alliance, he joined Nissan in Tokyo as Vice President in charge of the CEO Office. From 2003 to 2005, back at Renault, he was appointed Vice President, Industrial System Performance Department. Then in 2005, he became Senior Vice President in charge of the CEO Office, and a member of the Renault Management Committee. In March 2007, he returned to Nissan in Tokyo as Senior Vice President, CEO/COO Office and Corporate Administration. Back at Renault on September 1, 2008, he was named Executive Vice President, Corporate Planning, Product Planning, Programs & Control, then appointed Executive Vice President, Product Planning, Programs and LCVs in 2013. Since April 2014, Philippe Klein has been Executive Vice President, Product Planning and Programs of the Renault group.

Born in 1961, Jean-Christophe Kugler holds an engineering degree from the Ecole Centrale Nantes. He joined the Process Engineering R&D Center at Renault in 1984. In 1989, he became Section Manager, Quality Control Engineering before moving to the Maubeuge site in 1994 as Head of the Quality Department for the launch of Kangoo. In 1998, he took charge of the Quality Department at the Cordoba site in Argentina.

In 2000, he was named Head of Production Vehicles with the Painted Body Engineering Department at Guyancourt, then Head of Body Shop Engineering between 2002 and 2005 and Assistant Director between 2005 and 2006. From 2006 to 2008, he was Director of the Small Commercial Vehicle Program and then the B Range Program. On October 1, 2008, Jean-Christophe Kugler was named Senior Vice President, Light Commercial Vehicles Division. He joined the Renault Management Committee in 2009. On November 1, 2011, Jean-Christophe Kugler was appointed Senior Vice President, Euromed Region Management Committee (RMC) Leader.

By Noah Joseph