YOKOHAMA, Japan – INFINITI Motor Company today announces the appointment of two new members to its global leadership team who offer extensive automotive, marketing and communications expertise.
Effective today, Cedric Ratinaud assumes the role of General Manager, INFINITI Global Communications and Darren Hester is promoted to Deputy General Manager, Global Marketing Communications.
Ratinaud’s 16+ years of automotive experience spans a multitude of disciplines including Communications, Marketing Communications and Brand within Nissan in Europe, Asia & Oceania and most recently, within the ASEAN region as General Manager – Brand, Marketing and Communications at Nissan Motor Asia Pacific based in Thailand.
Ratinaud marries a wealth of knowledge with a strong passion for electrification as well as Autonomous drive technology, both of which will be beneficial as INFINITI progresses towards delivering its vision for 2030.
Ratinaud will report directly to INFINITI Global Chairperson and senior vice president Peyman Kargar, with a functional reporting line to Lavanya Wadgaonkar, vice president of global communications.
“As INFINITI enters into a new era, we are growing our ranks with the leaders who have the vision and energy to disrupt the status quo” said Peyman Kargar, Chairperson, INFINITI Global. “Cedric’s command of his communications craft, along with a great enthusiasm for communicating our brand in compelling new ways is a perfect match for our direction.”
In addition to his extensive work experience on two continents, Ratinuad holds a master’s degree in marketing & Luxury Marketing from ESC Troyes, Business School of Management, Troyes, France and is fluent in French and English.
INFINITI also adds Darren Hester to its global leadership team with his to Deputy General manager, Marketing Communications.
With 25 years’ experience, Hester most recently led marketing communications for INFINITI Global brand and Marketing as Senior Manager for several years in Japan, joining from Renault where as head of marketing communications for Asia Pacific, he drove significant brand transformation across the region.
In his new capacity, Hester will continue to lead the global marketing communication efforts for INFINITI maintaining a reporting line to Olga FilIippova, divisional general manager of INFINITI's Global Sales and Marketing.
“Darren’s passion for the INFINITI, creativity and penchant for big ideas will continue to benefit the brand as we progress toward a new era of automotive, fueled by our brand renewal,” said Olga FilIippova, divisional general manager, INFINITI Global Sales and Marketing. “We are thrilled that Darren will continue to lead our marketing communication efforts and bring his revered creative energy to such an exciting chapter for our company.”
Hester holds a Bachelor of the Arts Hons degree in business administration from University of Greenwich in the UK.
Both executives will be based at the INFINITI global headquarters in Yokohama Japan.
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About INFINITI
INFINITI Motor Company is headquartered in Yokohama, Japan with operations around the world including regional offices based in the Americas, China and INFINITI International Markets based in Dubai. The INFINITI brand of premium automobiles are assembled in manufacturing facilities in Japan, North America and China. INFINITI design studios are located in Atsugi-Shi near Yokohama, London, San Diego and Beijing.
More information about INFINITI and its industry-leading technologies can be found at www.INFINITI.com. You can also follow INFINITI on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn and see all our latest videos on YouTube.
Contacts - INFINITI Communications
Stephen (Steve) Coughlan
Senior manager, Global Communications
stephen.coughlan@infiniti.com
Therese Sarmiento
Global Communications
Therese.sarmiento@infiniti.com
