"We continue to set up Infiniti for further growth in the premium segment," said Johan de Nysschen, President of Infiniti Motor Company Ltd. "Design will play a pivotal role in our quest to nurture the brand and grow the business."
Albaisa is a passionate and seasoned automotive designer with 25 years of experience. "Alfonso is a great fit for Infiniti," said Shiro Nakamura, Chief Creative Officer. "He is a brand visionary who has the passion and drive to translate his progressive thinking into exciting designs with global appeal."
Albaisa joined the Nissan Design team in San Diego, CA, in 1988. From 1997, he held a number of senior Design positions within Nissan leading up to his appointment as Design Director, Nissan Design America, in 2004. In 2007, he was appointed Vice President of Nissan Design Europe. Upon his 2011 return to the US as Vice President, Nissan Design America, he led the design of the Nissan Ellure and Xtrem concept cars as well as key strategic production vehicles soon to be launched. He also played a key role in the design of several Infiniti models. In 2012, Albaisa was named Design Director of Nissan global Design, Nissan brand passenger cars, including Zero Emission Vehicles. In this global role, he was responsible to map out and implement Nissan's future design strategies.
Albaisa is a Cuban American who descends from a highly design- and architecture-minded family. He graduated from Pratt Institute in New York in 1988 and also attended the Center for Creative Studies in Detroit, MI.