Nissan appoints Steve Jernigan as Americas chief purchasing officer

Nissan has announced a leadership transition within its Americas purchasing team. Effective April 1, 2026, Steve Jernigan will assume the position of CPO and vice-president, purchasing, Nissan Americas, succeeding Andrew Wareing. Wareing is set to retire after more than 30 years with the company, a tenure in which Nissan praised his leadership and the “lasting impact” he had on its teams and operations.

Jernigan brings a broad background spanning supply chain, logistics and purchasing into his new role. He joined Nissan in 2010 and has worked closely with Wareing on critical initiatives as senior director of production purchasing. In his new capacity, Jernigan will oversee all purchasing activities supporting Nissan’s vehicle assembly and engine manufacturing operations in the US, Mexico, and Brazil, along with project management and supplier relations. The company said the transition reflects a “continued focus on operational excellence and strong supplier partnerships in the region.”

Steve Jernigan speaking on the Red Sofa at Finished Vehicle Logistics North America in 2024, where he outlined how Nissan has strengthened its Mexican logistics network through greater flexibility, cross-border collaboration and contingency planning to manage volatility in demand and capacity

Speaking at Automotive Logistics’ Finished Vehicle Logistics North America conference in 2024, Jernigan – then senior director of supply chain management at Nissan North America – described how Nissan had bolstered its Mexican outbound logistics to manage fluctuating demand and capacity constraints. He noted that the company made significant investments in intermodal transport to maintain vehicle deliveries during disruptions – shifting from an 80% rail-reliant distribution model to using dedicated charter vessels, and even shipping cars in containers and sending haulage trucks from Mexico into the US. “Anything we can do to move a car, we’ve done it,” Jernigan said of Nissan’s flexible approach to overcoming logistics bottlenecks.

Jernigan also flagged ongoing supply-chain challenges, including a shortage of skilled truck drivers in Mexico and limited transport equipment availability, reflecting uneven capacity recovery in parts of the region. With roughly 40% of Nissan’s Mexican production destined for the US market at the time, he explained that even minor shifts in consumer demand or border disruptions can quickly ripple through the network and affect logistics providers. He pointed to interest-rate pressures, for example, which had begun nudging some consumers toward more affordable vehicle segments and altering distribution patterns from Mexico. This need for agility and close coordination across logistics, manufacturing and procurement is likely to inform Jernigan’s approach as he takes charge of Nissan’s purchasing and supplier management.

Nissan’s leadership expressed confidence in Jernigan as he transitions into the top purchasing role.

Jernigan will be based in Franklin, Tennessee, and will report to David Johnson, regional senior vice president, manufacturing, supply chain management and purchasing, Nissan Americas.

“Continuity in leadership is critical to sustaining our operational performance and continue strengthening our supplier partnerships,” said Johnson. “Steve has worked hand in hand with Andrew and our teams on key initiatives, and his deep experience and steady leadership approach will help ensure a smooth transition and maintain our momentum.”

In leading purchasing across Nissan in the Americas, Jernigan will also work closely with other leaders and teams across the wider manufacturing and supply chain organisation, including Chris Styles, regional vice-president for supply chain management for Nissan across the Americas.