Innovation rewarded with Nissan awards

Nissan has announced the winners of its inaugural Chairman’s Innovation Awards.

The awards were introduced internally last May as part of the company’s drive to nurture top talent and innovative ideas from within the business.

The first Chairman’s Innovation Awards encouraged employees to share their innovative ideas to unlock business growth and product transformation. An additional award was also developed to celebrate existing innovative behaviour within the business.

Over 2,000 entries were received from across nine European regions, with 20 finalists selected.

From these, the two winners selected were Jean-Christophe Sellier from Nissan France for innovative behaviour in leading the Micra Intelligent Get & Go, an online car-sharing program that allows up to five people to own a Micra, and John Ferguson Nissan UK (Sunderland plant) for his idea to use cutting-edge digital e-ink and e-paper technology to allow customers limitless choice of colours for their car.

Both winners will also be rewarded with a trip to the NASA Space Centre in the US, while John will also be given dedicated time out of his job, budget and mentoring to bring the idea to life.

John said, ‘I’m shocked, humbled and honoured to win the Chairman’s Innovation Awards. It’s a fantastic initiative and it’s a dream come true for me to be part of it. I can’t wait to start making my idea a reality.’