Thierry Sabbagh

• Position: Divisional Vice President and President, Middle East, KSA, CIS and India – Nissan and INFINITI
• Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
• Languages Spoken: Arabic, English, French
• LinkedIn

PROFESSIONAL AND ACADEMIC BACKGROUND

Thierry Sabbagh is the Divisional Vice President and President, Middle East, Saudi Arabia (KSA), Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), and India - Nissan and INFINITI.

Since joining Nissan in 2018, Thierry has played a pivotal role in strengthening the brand’s performance and presence across the region. In 2024, he expanded his responsibilities to lead three regional business units – Nissan Middle East, Nissan Saudi Arabia, and INFINITI Middle East – under the Middle East Regional Business Unit (ME RBU). In January 2026, his scope was expanded to cover Nissan India.

In his current role, Thierry is responsible for driving Nissan’s strategic direction, expanding market presence across more than 18 markets including the GCC, Levant, CIS, and India, and delivering exceptional automotive experiences to customers. He also leads the business development function in the region, identifying new growth opportunities and partnerships. A key part of his leadership is fostering a strong and collaborative network of stakeholders, including business partners, government entities and regulatory authorities to ensure sustainable growth and long-term success.

Under Thierry’s leadership, the Middle East Business Unit delivered 10% year-on-year growth in Fiscal Year 2024 (April 2024 – Mar 2025). This performance was driven by a strategic SUV offensive: the global debut of the all-new Nissan Patrol in Abu Dhabi (September 2024); the launch of the all-new Nissan KICKS (February 2025); and the introduction of the all-new Nissan Magnite (March 2025) - establishing an all-new nameplate and segment for the brand in the region.

Key drivers included the all-new Nissan KICKS (Feb 2025) and the all-new Nissan Magnite (Mar 2025), which marked the entry of an all-new nameplate and segment for Nissan in the Middle East.

Building on this momentum, Thierry completed the flagship lineup in June 2025 with the unveiling of the new Patrol Pro-4X - the region’s first, and the global reveal of the most powerful all-new Patrol NISMO yet at a landmark event held in the UAE.

As Nissan continues its global transformation under RE: Nissan, Thierry plays a key role in advancing the strategy across the Middle East, KSA, CIS regions and India - enhancing performance and shaping a leaner, more resilient business that can swiftly respond to changing market dynamics.

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

• Led Nissan’s Middle East RBU to achieve a 38% growth in vehicle volumes over the past four years, contributing significantly to global targets.
• Oversaw the expansion of Nissan and INFINITI operations across more than 15 regional markets.
• Championed the global reveal of the all-new Nissan Patrol in the UAE, reinforcing the region’s importance to the brand.
• Played a key role in securing the UAE headquarters’ certification as a ‘Great Place to Work’ – the first for Nissan in the region.
• Cultivated a workplace culture defined by collaboration, innovation, and inclusion, leading a diverse team of more than 320 employees.

LEADERSHIP PHILOSOPHY

Thierry Sabbagh’s leadership is grounded in strategic foresight, a deep understanding of market dynamics, and a strong focus on people and performance. He is committed to fostering a purpose-driven culture, building sustainable business strategies, and empowering teams to innovate and lead. His vision is to position Nissan not only as an automotive brand, but as a regional leader in mobility, customer experience, and workplace culture.

BEHIND THE TITLE

Outside the office, Thierry values quality time with his family. He is married and has two sons. An enthusiast of the outdoors, he enjoys walking, cycling, and playing paddle tennis.

HISTORY

• April 2024 – Present: Divisional Vice President, President Middle East, KSA, CIS and India – Nissan & INFINITI
• Leads four entities: Nissan Middle East, Nissan Saudi Arabia, INFINITI Middle East and Nissan India
• Oversees strategic direction, performance, and expansion across over more than 18 markets in the Middle East, CIS and India
• Leading Nissan’s transformation in the Middle East under RE: Nissan, focused on boosting performance and building a more agile, resilient business.

• Previous Roles:
• Apr 2022 – Apr 2024: President, Nissan Saudi Arabia, INFINITI Middle East and Managing Director, Nissan Middle East
• Jun 2019 – Apr 2022: Managing Director, Nissan Middle East
• Jun 2018 – Jun 2019: Director, Sales Operations, Nissan Middle East

EDUCATION

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business and Hotel Management (Marketing), University of West London.
• Executive Certification in Leadership with Finance, Harvard Business School.
• Global Executive Training, Wharton Executive Education.