Nissan Design Chief Nakamura to Retire

Shiro Nakamura, who has led Nissan Motor Co.’s design efforts since 1999, is retiring at the end of March.

Alfonso Albaisa, currently the head of design for Nissan’s Infiniti premium brand, will succeed him as senior vice president of global design for all of Nissan on April 1. Karim Habib, the former head of design at BMW AG, will succeed Albaisa at Infiniti on July 1.

Nakamura, who currently serves as senior vice president and chief creative officer, helped lead Nissan’s revival in the early 2000s through innovative design. His credits include the third-generation Murano crossover vehicle, 370Z sport coupe and GT-R muscle car, and the quirky Juke, Cube and Rogue crossover models.

Nakamura started his career as a studio draftsman at Isuzu Motors Ltd. in 1974. He graduated from Musashino Art University in Tokyo, and also studied at California’s Art Center College of Design.

Albaisa has been in charge of design at Infiniti since 2013 and oversaw the styling of the new QX30 and QX50 crossover vehicles. He joined Nissan in 1988 and has led the company’s U.S. and European design studios. A Cuban-American, Albaisa says he strived to add a Latin flair to the luxury brand.

Habib, a Canadian of Lebanese descent, will report to Albaisa and be based at Nissan’s global design center in Japan. He left BMW earlier this year after a five-year tenure.