Nissan continues to reshape its leadership team, this time with a change at the helm of its global design organization. The automaker has announced that longtime design chief Alfonso Albaisa will retire at the end of 2026, with British designer and 25-year Nissan veteran Matthew Weaver set to succeed him later this year.

Albaisa, who has spent nearly 39 years with the Japanese automaker, will step down as Corporate Executive for Global Design on October 1. He will remain with the company as an advisor until his official retirement on December 31, ensuring a smooth transition.

Weaver brings decades of experience, having worked across Nissan's design studios in the UK and Japan after earlier stints at Ford, Volkswagen, and design firm Makkina. He has contributed to Nissan, Infiniti, and Datsun projects, with notable work including the Nissan Juke, Qashqai, and the all-new electric Micra. His deep appreciation for Nissan's heritage and forward-looking design philosophy has made him one of the company's most respected designers.

Weaver relocated to Japan in April 2025 after serving as head of Nissan Design Europe, taking on the position of Senior Design Director at Nissan Global. He succeeds Albaisa following more than two decades of contributing to the company's global design direction.

In his new role, Weaver will report directly to Nissan President and CEO Ivan Espinosa, who assumed leadership of the company in 2025.

With Matthew Weaver set to take the reins, Nissan enters a new chapter as it looks to redefine its design direction. How the brand's styling evolves under its new leadership will be one of the more interesting developments to watch in the years ahead.