FRANKLIN, TN—Nissan Americas has named Vicki Smith senior manager, corporate social responsibility, responsible for leading philanthropic and community outreach activities, which include Nissan Neighbors, a community giving program focused on education, the environment and humanitarian aid. Smith is also named executive director, Nissan Foundation, with responsibility for overseeing activities related to the Foundation's support of educational programs that celebrate and foster diversity.

Since joining Nissan in 1986, Smith has held positions of increasing responsibility in corporate and manufacturing communications, including a three-year assignment at Nissan's global headquarters in Japan. Most recently, she served as a speechwriter for Nissan's global senior leadership team, including Nissan's president and CEO, Carlos Ghosn. Earlier in her Nissan career, she supported internal and external communications activities at the company's Smyrna, Tenn., assembly plant.

According to David Reuter, vice president, Corporate Communications, Nissan Americas. "We're strengthening the alignment of Nissan's philanthropy and community involvement across our operations worldwide, while continuing to meet the needs of individual communities where we have a presence, and Vicki's global experience and strengths as a communicator will play an important role in that effort."