Nissan names Matthew Weaver global design chief as Alfonso Albaisa retires
Nissan will hand global design leadership to Matthew Weaver on October 1, 2026, as Alfonso Albaisa steps down and retires at year-end.
- 2026
- 2001
What Happened
Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. announced senior management changes effective October 1, 2026. Alfonso Albaisa, Corporate Executive, Global Design, will step down from his role on that date and serve as an advisor until December 31, 2026, when he retires. Matthew Weaver, currently Senior Design Director, will succeed him as Corporate Executive, Global Design, reporting directly to CEO Ivan Espinosa.
Albaisa steps down; Weaver takes over as Corporate Executive, Global Design
Albaisa retires after serving as advisor
Albaisa has made significant contributions to Nissan's global design identity and its design reputation around the world. Weaver, who joined Nissan in 2001, has worked on the Qashqai, Juke and other key models across Europe and Japan, and brings extensive leadership experience across Nissan's global design organization, including Infiniti, partnership projects and LCV programs. The two will work together through December 2026 to ensure a smooth transition and maintain continuity of operations.
Why this matters
The change puts a Nissan design veteran in charge of the studio that shapes the look of future models. Albaisa built Nissan's global design identity over his career, and his successor has worked on key models like the Qashqai and Juke. The two will overlap through December to keep design work on track during the transition.
Terms in This Story
- LCV
- Light commercial vehicle, such as vans and trucks used for business.
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.