Nissan Replaces N. America Chief After 14 Months

Nissan Motor Co. has named Jose Valls as chairman of its North American operations two months after he began as vice chairman of the unit. His new assignment will begin on April 1.

The 51-year-old succeeds Denis Le Vot, who has occupied the region’s chairmanship for 14 months. Le Vot will return to Renault SA, where he had been serving as head of the French company’s Eurasia region.

Valls’ current position is chair of Nissan operations in Latin America. That job has been assigned to Guy Rodriguez, the unit’s head of marketing and sales.