Lavanya Wadgaonkar

Corporate VP & Chief Communications Officer
Nissan
Japan

Following a fairly dramatic period in Nissan’s recent history, which included the ouster of chairman Carlos Ghosn and the departure of several of the automaker’s comms leaders, Lavanya Wadgaonkar was named corporate VP in charge of global communications earlier this year. And Wadgaonkar certainly brings a crucial degree of institutional knowledge to the role, having been with Nissan for more than decade, rising through comms and CSR roles in India before moving into regional and global roles at one of Japan’s iconic companies.

In a recent interview with PRovoke, Wadgaonkar noted that the biggest challenge facing companies lies in building trust, amid considerable stakeholder scepticism. Her remedy suggests the kind of thinking she will bring to her role atop Nissan’s communications function — “However, this also presents an opportunity to stand out. By communicating authentically and responsibly, we can differentiate ourselves and build trust with our stakeholders.”

Can you share a moment in your career when you saw PR's direct impact on business performance?
Nissan LEAF launch and communication. Industry game changer

What are the communications industry's biggest challenges and opportunities in the year ahead?
Talent will remain a challenge as we integrate new skill sets with AI, while it also opens up a new world of opportunities. One more challenge is navigating activist world especially as sustainability communications is at the core of stakeholder capitalism.

What have you most admired about the communications industry over the past year, and what has disappointed you?
The resilience of our industry, especially as we faced polycrisis. However, I think we can do better at agility. We are still very slow to adopt.

What work from your team are you most proud of over the past year?
Our integrated campaign during Japan Mobility Show.

How have you switched off from work and maintained wellness over the past year?
I’ve found the perfect combination that keeps me grounded: running and reading. I make sure to achieve my 5km goal at least three times a week, and thoroughly enjoy diving into the pages of a book.

Which book/movie/TV show/podcast/playlist/other cultural source has helped you get through the past year or provided inspiration?
Books - ‘Professional Troublemaker: The Fear-Fighter Manual’ by Luvvie Ajayi and ‘The Courage to be Disliked by Ichiro Kishimi & Fumitake Koga. Movies – The Beautiful Game, and Kingdom (Japanese).

If I wasn't working in marketing/communications, I would be...
A script writer.

Lavanya Wadgaonkar

Corporate VP & Chief Communications OfficerNissanJapan

Corporate VP & Chief Communications Officer
Nissan
Japan