Former Michelin exec, Jim Morton, to Retire

(Akron/Tire Review) Jim Morton, the former Michelin North America public relations and government affairs chief who later became vice chairman of Nissan North America, has decided to retire at the end of March. Morton will continue as a government affairs advisor to Nissan management after his Apr. 1 departure.

Nissan announced that Scott Becker, vice president of legal, will assume Morton’s government affairs responsibilities, but it will not fill the vice chairman’s position.

Morton, 61, who joined Nissan in 2000, was named vice chairman this past July. Prior to that, he served as senior vice president of administration and finance. Morton was instrumental in Nissan’s recent headquarters move from Southern California to Nashville.

He joined MNA in 1976, and held a variety of public relations and government relations posts with Michelin.

He and his wife, Susan, plan to move back to Greenville, South Carolina.