Nissan appoints Thierry Sabbagh as president, expands India remit

Nissan has appointed Thierry Sabbagh as divisional vice-president and president for the Middle East, KSA, CIS and India, expanding his responsibilities to include oversight of the company’s India operations as it sharpens its focus on the market in 2026.

The appointment took effect on January 1, 2026, and forms part of a broader set of senior management changes across Nissan’s Africa, Middle East, India, Europe and Oceania (AMIEO) region. The company said the moves are aimed at accelerating delivery of its Re:Nissan transformation plan and improving execution, speed and customer focus.

With the expanded mandate, Sabbagh will now oversee Nissan India, reflecting the automaker’s intention to strengthen governance and leadership continuity in what it has identified as a strategic growth market within the AMIEO region.

India central to growth plans

Nissan has positioned India as a key pillar of its regional ambitions, as it seeks to rebuild momentum after several years of subdued performance. The company said India will play a central role in its plans for 2026, with a renewed emphasis on product launches and network expansion.

Over the next 14 to 16 months, Nissan India plans to introduce three new models, including GRAVITE, TEKTON and a seven-seater C-SUV. The automaker also aims to expand its dealer footprint to 250 customer touch points across the country, as it works to broaden reach and improve service coverage.

Commenting on the changes, Massimiliano Messina, chairperson of Nissan AMIEO, said the Re:Nissan plan is focused on transformation and customer-centricity. He added that empowering regional leadership would help create a more agile organisation capable of responding quickly to market dynamics and delivering competitive products.

Sabbagh said he was taking on the expanded role at a pivotal time for the company. He described the Middle East and India as fast-growing and dynamic markets with significant opportunities, and said he would work closely with teams and partners to accelerate growth and deliver value for customers.

India management continuity

Saurabh Vatsa, managing director of Nissan Motor India, said the appointment marked an important moment for the company as it enters a new phase of growth. He said Sabbagh’s experience would be instrumental in strengthening Nissan’s market presence in India and supporting the shift from transformation to execution.

Alongside Sabbagh’s appointment, Nissan also announced the departure of Leon Dorssers, senior vice-president and chief of commercial operations for Nissan AMIEO. Dorssers, who joined Nissan in 1992, has held leadership roles across Europe, the Americas and Japan during his tenure.

The leadership changes come after a series of product launches across the AMIEO region in 2025, with further launches planned in 2026. For India, the expanded role for Sabbagh signals Nissan’s intent to place stronger regional leadership behind its product pipeline and network growth, as it seeks to re-establish itself in an increasingly competitive passenger vehicle market.