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Key Takeaways Nissan CEO Ivan Espinosa started his career at Nissan in 2003 as a product specialist in the company’s Mexico planning division, rising through the ranks to become CEO in April 2025.
Espinosa manages stress by playing drums with his band and prioritizing tennis and golf on weekends.
Other CEOs rely on rituals like journaling, meditation or workouts to manage stress.
At Nissan, the $8.5 billion automaker, CEO Ivan Espinosa unwinds by leaning in to his favorite hobbies.
“How do I manage stress? Well, I try to continue being myself,” Espinosa said in a recent interview with The Wall Street Journal. “So I like to play tennis on the weekends. If I can’t, I play golf. And I also am a musician.”
Espinosa mentioned that he likes to play the drums. “I have a band, every now and then we get together, and we play for a while,” he said. “This helps me staying real and staying true to myself.”
Nissan CEO Ivan Espinosa. (Photo by JIJI PRESS / AFP) / Japan OUT
Espinosa began his career at Nissan in 2003 as a product specialist in the company’s Mexico planning division. Over the years, he advanced through key roles across Thailand and Europe before joining Nissan’s global headquarters in Japan in 2016. After holding several senior leadership positions, he ultimately took the helm as CEO in April of last year.
In a fast-moving career such as his, spanning multiple countries and increasing levels of responsibility, stress is inevitable. Yet he has found balance by turning to music, sports and exercise.
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