GARDENA, CALIF. – Nissan North America, Inc., (NNA) announced on Jan. 24 that effective February 1, it will create a new division responsible for the sales and marketing of light commercial vehicles (LCV) and fleet sales in the United States.

NNA's Light Commercial Vehicle and Fleet Division will develop products, service and sales and marketing strategy for LCVs and Fleet. The strategy will determine specific market segments, introduction dates and manufacturing sites.

"The new LCV lineup is a major part of Nissan's future profit and volume plans for the U.S.," said Jed Connelly, senior vice president, sales and marketing for NNA. "A dedicated division will help us meeting the specific needs of the American LCV customers, both in terms of products and services."

Heading up the new division will be Mike Hobson, director, LCV and Fleet. Hobson joined Nissan in 1991. Since then, he has held a number of positions including C&I manager, truck model line manager, and he has held various marketing positions at Nissan Motor Acceptance Corp., Nissan's captive finance company in the United States. Hobson will report directly to Connelly.

This move is part of a global Nissan strategy aimed at fostering its LCV business. LCVs are one of the four key breakthrough areas identified by Carlos Ghosn, president and CEO of Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., and his team to achieve the objectives of the three-year NISSAN Value Up Plan. Nissan aims at selling 434,000 LCV units globally in FY 2007, and attaining an 8 percent operating profit margin.