Find or Sell any Parts for Your Vehicle in USA

Nissan moves Europe design chief to U.S., Campbell to retire

Thu, 11 Mar 2010

Bruce Campbell, Nissan's U.S. design chief, will retire at the end of March after 31 years with the automaker and will be replaced by Alfonso Albaisa, who currently is Nissan's European design chief.

This will be the second tour of duty in the United States for Albaisa. He was hired by Nissan Design America in 1988 after graduating from the Pratt Institute in New York. During that time, he is credited with working on the Altima, the Maxima and the Rogue. After an assignment in Japan, Albaisa took over Nissan Design Europe in 2007.

Campbell joined Nissan in 1980. His portfolio includes the "Hardbody" pickup, the Pulsar NX, the Maxima and Xterra production vehicles, and the Gobi small truck and the Cocoon six-passenger car concepts. He also led design work on the current 370Z, Maxima and Rouge. Campbell was put in charge of Nissan Design America in October 2004.

In addition to vehicles, Nissan says that Campbell played a key role in the design of its new North American headquarters building in suburban Nashville, Tenn. Campbell will continue to work as a consultant for Nissan's global design operations.

Albaisa also takes over the duties of Victor Nacif, who has been in charge of business operations for Nissan's U.S. design unit. Nacif will replace Albaisa as head of Nissan's European design unit.




By Dale Jewett