Nissan Executive Vice President Trevor Mann CBE has been granted the Freedom of the City of Sunderland in recognition of his “enormous contribution” to the city’s economy.
Council members yesterday voted to confer Honorary Freedom to Mann, who joined the company in 1985 as a team leader in the workforce which launched car manufacturing in North East England.
Now an Executive Vice President based at Nissan’s Global Headquarters in Yokohama, Japan, and Chairman of the Management Committee for Africa, the Middle East, India and Europe, his rise to the top has coincided with Nissan Sunderland Plant’s growth into the biggest UK car plant of all time and the company gaining a record market share in Europe.
Mann, who was awarded a CBE in the Queen’s 2012 New Year’s Honours List for his Services to Business in North East England, said,
“I am deeply proud to be conferred with the Honorary Freedom of the City of Sunderland, where I enjoyed living and working for many happy and fulfilling years.
The honour is a reflection of the many achievements of our UK plant and a mutually supportive partnership spanning three decades between Nissan and Sunderland City Council.
Of course none of Nissan Sunderland plant’s success would have been possible without the dedication and contribution of my colleagues at the plant, so I would like to thank them all for their hard work and outstanding performance over many years.”
Two other notable figures chosen to become Freemen at the meeting were Joël Batteux OBE, Mayor of Sunderland’s twin town of St Nazaire; and Sunderland football legend, Niall Quinn MBE.
In conferring the honour, Sunderland City Council noted the many skilled jobs and careers created at the plant and in its supply base under Mann’s leadership, as well as the personal role he played in helping the city to develop its own economic strategy.
In a report to yesterday’s meeting, Sunderland Council Chief Executive Dave Smith said,
“His remarkable journey from team leader to Executive Vice President of one of the world’s leading motor manufacturing companies – and the very highest levels of recognition that he has achieved – make Trevor an outstanding role model and example of what is possible for the young people of Sunderland.
Therefore, at a time when the city council and its partners including the business community, are working hard to implement the Sunderland Economic Masterplan, ensuring that our children and young people are supported to follow whatever job and career paths they choose, it is considered entirely fitting that the Freedom of the City should be conferred upon Trevor Mann.
The proposal will formally seal the relationship between Mr Mann and the City of Sunderland in recognition of all he has done for the city, the example of achievement he sets to the city’s young people, and his personal contribution to the economic well being of the City and people of Sunderland.”
Nissan Sunderland Plant begun manufacturing of the lithium-ion batteries that power the Nissan Leaf which is also built there as well as several other non-electric vehicles, including the New Nissan Note, Qashqai and Juke.
Nissan is continuing to recruit for a range of positions, with all jobs and further information available at the website www.careersatnissan.co.uk
Source; Nissan
