Nissan Names New R&D Chief for N. America

Kunio Nakaguro has been named senior vice president of R&D for Nissan Motor Co. in North America. He begins his new job on Feb. 1.

He succeeds Carla Bailo, who is retiring after a 25-year career with Nissan that included vehicle engineering for the Sentra sedan and Quest crossover and program responsibility for the company's SUVs worldwide.

Nakaguro will retain his role as vice president of Nissan's research center in Japan but be based at the company's North American technical center in Farmington Hills, Mich. He is a former director of that facility and previously headed R&D at the Nissan technical center in Europe.

Nakaguro hold a degree from the Faculty of Science and Engineering at Wasdeda University in Japan. He joined Nissan in 1987.