YOKOHAMA — Infiniti has promoted global comms leader Wendy Orthman to general manager of global integrated brand, marketing and communications.

The newly created role merges the responsibilities of chief marketing and chief communications officer, adding global brand, marketing and social media responsibilities to Orthman’s communications remit.


Orthman will continue reporting directly to chairman and senior VP Peyman Kargar. She will now also report Olga Filippova, divisional general manager of global brand, sales and marketing. for brand, marketing and social media initiatives.

The senior management restructure comes after former GM of global brand and marketing Phil York departed the company last month to return to his native Europe.

"Infiniti is a brand born to defy conventions and Wendy has a flair for big, convention-breaking ideas. With this change, Infiniti is once again making a daring statement by truly integrating marketing, social and communications into one vision," Filippova said.

"In addition to pushing boundaries and challenging what's possible with a level of energy, tenacity and good humor that we value, Wendy embodies the human-first approach that sets  apart and these strengths are invaluable assets as we steer Infiniti towards a bright new era.”

Orthman is a veteran of the automotive industry. She has been in her current role since April 2020, succeeding Trevor Hale who has since opened his own shop. She previously held senior leadership roles at parent company Nissan and Chrysler before that.

Earlier this year, Orthman oversaw a PR agency review that led to the automotive company handing its global PR business to imre, continuing its decade-long relationship with the agency for another three years.