Philippe Klein


Philippe Klein is a French born engineer and businessman. He currently serves as Chief Planning Officer of the multi-national Japanese automobile manufacturer Nissan.

Education

Born in 1957, Klein was educated at the ESPCI where he obtained his diploma in 1980. He gained a higher level diploma from the ENSPM

Career

In 1981, Klein started his career at Renault as an engineer in the Engine Development Department. In 1992, he was appointed "Executive Assistant" to the Chairman. In 1999, Renault entered into a partnership with the Japanese auto-maker,Nissan. The two corporations took minority shareholdings in one another and embarked on a sustained programme of technical and commercial collaboration which included the exchange of senior executives. At this point, Klein relocated to Tokyo, joining Nissan as a Vice-President. He subsequently progressed to the position of Senior Vice-President, remaining with Nissan till 2003.
In 2003, he was appointed "Vice President, Industrial System Performance Department" with Renault. In September 2008, Philippe Klein was appointed "Deputy Director General Product Planning, Programs" of the Renault Group. Until 2014 he was "Executive Vice President, Product Planning, Programs" and, from 2005 to 2014, a member of the company's Executive Management Committee.
In September 2014, his appointment was announced as Chief Planning Officer and member of the Executive Committee at Nissan, in succession to Andy Palmer.