13/01/2026, MELBOURNE: Nissan Oceania has appointed Steve Coughlan as head of Communications effective immediately. In this role, Coughlan will oversee Nissan’s media communications across Australia and New Zealand, drawing on more than 23 years of automotive experience gained in Australia, Hong Kong and most recently, Japan.

Coughlan commenced his career with Toyota Australia at its Sydney-based sales and marketing office in 2003. After holding a variety of roles across sales planning, accessory planning, product planning and product communications, he departed the company in late 2017 and joined Nissan’s premium brand, INFINITI, at its global headquarters in Hong Kong in early 2018.

In 2020, Coughlan relocated to Japan, joining Nissan’s global communications team at the brand’s headquarters in Yokohama. Between 2020 and 2023, he supported INFINITI’s global communications efforts, including the launch of the latest-generation QX60 and, more recently, the flagship QX80. In 2023, he was promoted to Deputy Director, Global Communications, expanding his remit to support Nissan and the NISMO motorsports team in Japan.

Coughlan will report to Katherine Zachary, Region Vice President, Communications.

“Steve is a passionate automotive enthusiast who brings a wealth of global experience to the role,” said Katherine Zachary. “I know he’s excited to reconnect with media counterparts and meet new members of the media landscape across Australia and New Zealand as we roll out a range of highly anticipated new models, including the new Navara, Patrol, updated X-Trail and Qashqai in the year ahead.”