Rimac Technology has announced two leadership changes as the company enters its next phase of growth, with Nurdin Pitarević, previously chief operating officer (COO), appointed chief executive officer (CEO) and Marko Brkljačić, formerly deputy COO, assuming the role of COO.

Mate Rimac, founder of Rimac Technology and former CEO, will continue to support the business in his role as president of Rimac Group, while focusing more closely on Bugatti Rimac, where he serves as CEO.

“Nurdin has proven himself as an exceptional leader during his time as COO and as my deputy in leading Rimac Technology,” said Rimac. “He combines deep operational expertise with clear strategic thinking and a strong sense for people and culture. I have full trust in Nurdin to lead Rimac Technology through its next phase of growth and to continue building a world-class Tier 1 organization.”

“Nurdin and Marko have been instrumental in Rimac Technology’s evolution from a high-performance niche supplier into a trusted Tier 1 partner. They have shown that advanced technology, industrial discipline, and entrepreneurial speed can coexist at scale.”

Leadership focused on scalable technology and long-term creation

Since joining Rimac Technology from a major European Tier 1 supplier, Pitarević has overseen a period of rapid industrialization and operational expansion. As COO, he led multiple programs into series production, delivering thousands of systems globally in line with automotive standards.

“Stepping into the CEO role means moving beyond operational delivery to shaping the long-term direction of the company,” said Pitarević. “Our focus is on building a technology leader that scales responsibly – combining innovation, digitalization, sustainability, strong organisational foundations and sustainable profitability. With new programs entering series production and a strong pipeline ahead, this is the right moment to accelerate our trajectory.”

As CEO, Pitarević will lead Rimac Technology’s strategic roadmap through 2030, centered on advanced electrification technologies, AI-enabled and digitalized operations, sustainable industrial growth and robust organizational and financial structures. This includes the development of next-generation battery technology featuring solid-state cells, in collaboration with a global technology partner, alongside continued expansion of production capacity.

Marko Brkljačić brings extensive experience in operations, digital transformation and strategic execution to the COO role. Prior to his appointment, he served as deputy COO at Rimac Technology and held senior leadership positions at Tokić, as well as multiple strategic roles at Rimac Automobili, including head of strategic projects and chief of staff.

“Rimac Technology is at a point where operational excellence must scale seamlessly with ambition. Our focus is on ensuring consistent execution, empowered teams, and systems that support long-term, repeatable success across all programs,” said Brkljačić.

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Andy Morley has been appointed chief commercial officer at Yasa. Morley returns to the electric powertrain manufacturer after a successful time as as managing director at Hewland, where he drove significant commercial expansion.

Morley brings over two decades of experience transforming businesses and delivering sustained sales growth across automotive, aerospace, defence and electric vehicle markets. His appointment marks a homecoming to Yasa, where he worked from 2013 to 2016 as technical sales engineer and business development manager, and played a key role in the company’s early commercial development.

“We are thrilled to welcome Andy back to Yasa at this pivotal moment in our growth trajectory,” said Joerg Miska, CEO, Yasa. “Andy’s unique combination of deep engineering expertise and proven commercial experience makes him ideally suited to lead our commercial strategy. Having been part of Yasa’s journey before, he understands our technology and our ambitions. His track record in securing major contracts and entering new markets will be instrumental as we expand our industry-leading axial flux technology.”

Andy was appointed managing director at Hewland in January 2021, where he led the business through a period of strategic growth and operational optimization. Prior to that, he held positions of increasing responsibility at Hewland as general manager and business development director. His career began with a technical apprenticeship and engineering roles at BAE Systems before joining Yasa in 2013.

“Returning to Yasa feels like coming home, and I’m excited to rejoin the team at such a transformative time for the company,” said Morley. “Yasa’s axial flux technology has become the benchmark in power density in electric motors, and importantly it is already proven in series production with global OEMs. With the recent power density world record and groundbreaking in-wheel motor prototype, we’re pushing the boundaries even further. I’m looking forward to working with customers and partners globally to expand our commercial success and help shape the future of performance electric mobility.”

“With more than 50,000 motors already delivered to customers, Yasa continues to demonstrate its ability to scale high-performance electrification,” said Miska. “Our technology is powering high-volume hybrid and BEV applications worldwide, providing partners with the tools to deliver high-performance solutions. As we expand into new markets and grow our footprint, we remain focused on creating opportunities for our partners while turning our engineering into scalable, impactful solutions that will shape the future of electrification.”

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Dr Mike Bolen has been appointed director for North America at Helix, a UK manufacturer of power-dense electric motors and inverters, effective April 1, 2025.

Bolen has a wealth of international experience in energy generation and control systems companies, including roles as national sales manager, USA and Europe for Ametek Solidstate Controls and a series of senior sales positions at Synovia Solutions and TEAL Electronics Corp.

Helix is a supplier of high-performance electric powertrains, including fully scalable high-power-density electric motors, inverters and electric drive units, engineered and manufactured in-house.

The appointment strengthens Helix’s operations in North America and enhances its regional offering of innovative electric propulsion and control solutions, which target electrification across a range of sectors, including automotive, aerospace, marine, defense and motorsport.

Leighton King, chief commercial officer at Helix, said, “Mike’s appointment is a pivotal step in our global growth strategy. His deep industry experience and technical insight will be invaluable as we accelerate our North American presence and work closely with new and existing customers to develop the next generation of high-performance electric powertrains.”

Dr Bolen added, “Helix is at the forefront of high-performance electric propulsion, and I am excited to lead the company’s expansion in North America. With the rapid shift toward electrification, there is a tremendous opportunity for Helix to deliver our world-class solutions to a growing market. I look forward to working with our customers and partners to drive innovation and performance in electric mobility.”

In related news, Czinger Vehicles recently appointed George Biggs as chief commercial officer (CCO). Click here to read the full story.

Swedish automotive manufacturer Polestar has appointed Michael Lohscheller as its new CEO. Thomas Ingenlath, who has served as CEO since Polestar’s inception, has resigned, with the change effective October 1, 2024.

Lohscheller, who previously served as CEO of Opel, VinFast and Nikola, will be tasked with expanding Polestar’s global footprint in the premium EV market. He said, “I am honored to join Polestar at such an exciting time in the company’s history. Polestar has already established itself as one of the most desirable and innovative brands in the EV space, and I look forward to working with the talented team to build on this strong foundation and accelerate our development.”

Winfried Vahland, Polestar’s incoming chairman, added, “Michael Lohscheller is the ideal leader to guide Polestar into its next chapter. His deep industry knowledge, especially in driving operational excellence, developing a coherent product strategy and strengthening the global market presence will be instrumental in the next chapter of Polestar’s growth.”

He also commended Ingenlath for his contributions to the company: “Thomas has been instrumental in shaping Polestar into the innovative and forward-thinking brand it is today, leading its transformation from a Volvo performance division into the only true global premium electric vehicle brand, with an outstanding focus on design, performance and premium qualities. We extend our deepest gratitude for his leadership.”

Ingenlath concluded, “I am very proud of what we’ve achieved together in the last seven years. We had the vision of an electric premium brand that puts performance and design at its core. And we made it, the dream became reality. I wish Michael and the team the best for the next chapter of Polestar.”

Marc Manning, an expert in zero-emission vehicle design, has been named as the new CEO of Kodiak Technologies. Manning will lead the design, development and market establishment of Kodiak’s heavy-duty hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) for commercial and industrial snow removal, as part of a collaboration with engineering firm Chang Robotics that will utilize design and engineering technology from automotive manufacturer Roush.

The current Kodiak implementation is an FAA-compliant industrial snow blower vehicle capable of meeting the minimum FAA requirements to move 7,000 tons of snow per hour at operating speeds of 25mph. Anticipated to premiere in early 2025, the vehicles are also eligible for federal grant programs, including the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act.

The Roush collaboration will produce a platform design that Kodiak can use to transfer to other vehicle types that require significant power output. For areas where megawatt charging standard infrastructure is unavailable, the design includes a series hybrid option for use with hydrogen, propane, biodiesel or petro-diesel when required.

Kodiak Technologies says it is conversing with more than 35 US airports interested in ordering and implementing the HEV that was recently unveiled at the 2024 Snow Symposium summit in Buffalo, New York. Public and government locations and sectors are also expected to adopt the technology.

Manning has more than 20 years of experience as a consultant and previously led transit bus engineering and acquisition at Chicago Transit Authority and Los Angeles Metro, where he supported the procurement of over US$1bn in transit buses with electric, CNG and diesel powertrains.

US design and software firm E-Circuit Motors (ECM) has appointed Dan Lisowsky to head its newly formed Industrial OEM Products division. This unit is dedicated to assisting manufacturers in the development of printed circuit board (PCB) stator electric motors.

Lisowsky will direct the division, which provides engineering, software and client services to large electric motor equipment manufacturers. These services will include motor development using ECM’s PrintStator Motor computer-aided design (CAD) platform, and advisory services for modeling, prototyping, production and commercialization of products with PCB Stator technology.

ECM design partners already served by this division include aerospace and defense innovator L3 Harris, global electronics manufacturer Celestica, marine and rail component leader B. Hepworth, and global engineering and manufacturing services firm East West Manufacturing.

In his new role, Lisowsky aims to accelerate the adoption of PCB Stator technology by ECM’s existing clients while actively engaging new partners. “I’m excited to join ECM to serve existing partners and leverage my network to convince new players to utilize ECM’s motor production technology to achieve their performance, efficiency, lightweighting and sustainability goals,” said Lisowsky.

Lisowsky brings extensive experience from roles at Ametek, Valtronic and Sanmina. He holds an MSE in technology management from the University of Pennsylvania and a BSE in mechanical engineering from the University of Michigan.

“ECM is working with large electric motor OEMs to develop new products and applications with PrintStator Motor CAD and PCB Stator innovation. With Dan and this new division, we’re providing a dedicated team to meet this demand and onboard additional motor OEMs who can leverage our technology,” said ECM CEO Brian Casey.

Starting in September, Philippe Krief, who is currently CEO of Alpine, will step into the additional role of chief technology officer at Renault Group, while continuing his duties with the Alpine brand. He succeeds Gilles Le Borgne, who has transitioned to a strategic advisory role for CEO Luca de Meo.

As the new CTO, Krief will oversee all of Renault Group’s engineering activities and resources, reporting directly to de Meo. Krief’s extensive background, particularly his tenure as director of engineering at Ferrari, equips him well for this role. His ambition is to develop intelligent vehicles faster than competitors and to anticipate and create groundbreaking technologies and products.

Over the past year as CEO of Alpine, Krief has been instrumental in executing the automotive manufacturer’s strategy and launching the new Alpine range, including the A290 and the upcoming GT crossover. He has also driven the development of Alpine’s next platform for high-performance electric vehicles and spearheaded the hydrogen-powered Alpenglow Hy4 prototype.

Gilles Le Borgne was praised by de Meo for his contribution to the company as CTO, “Gilles has played a pivotal role in our rapid turnaround, the fastest in recent automotive history. He revitalized engineering and boosted efficiency, allowing us to deliver numerous models under the Renaulution plan this year. My heartfelt thanks to him. Philippe, with his wealth of experience, will undoubtedly continue this momentum and help us stay ahead of the competition from both the East and the West. Motorsport innovation will be key in making our vehicles more accessible to our customers.”

Krief has worked on a diverse range of models, from B-segment cars to luxury vehicles. He began his career at Michelin and has since enjoyed stints at Fiat Group, Ferrari and Maserati. He has held key positions including vehicle department director and technical director of Alfa Romeo, director of engineering at Ferrari, and director of engineering and product performance at Alpine.

AI software provider Monolith has appointed Jim Shaw as head of sales for the Americas, to meet rising demand for AI-guided battery test and validation software in the automotive sector.

Shaw’s 35 years of experience, including leadership roles at National Instruments and Diversified Technical Systems, make him a valuable addition to Monolith’s team. His appointment comes as the company expands its presence in California, aiming to accelerate innovation in battery technology through AI-powered solutions.

Through AI-driven testing and validation, Monolith seeks to streamline engineering processes and optimize product development for electric vehicles, reducing the time and resources required for physical testing. Shaw’s expertise will help engineers with instant predictions based on valuable test data, without the need for repetitive and time-consuming physical tests.

Richard Ahlfeld, Monolith CEO and founder, said, “Jim joins us at a time when the EV industry is under great scrutiny. Companies are feeling pressure to bring products to market that satisfy both regulatory and customer demands. With his decades of experience, Jim will help battery and vehicle OEMs understand where AI can help.”

On his appointment, Shaw added, “Throughout my career I’ve been driven by empowering engineers with better tools to help them solve their most difficult challenges. Now, Monolith is poised to play a significant role in how battery engineers can work even smarter and bring better products to market, faster.”

For more on Monolith, click here.   

Power solutions company Cummins Inc. has announced the addition of John H. Stone to its board of directors.

Stone is currently the president and CEO of Allegion – a company that specializes in security and access around doors and adjacent areas. Prior to this, he had a 19-year tenure at Deere & Company, where he rose to the role of president of the Worldwide Construction, Forestry and Power Systems business.

Other career highlights include roles at Six Sigma and Quality at General Electric, and service as an infantry officer in the US Army.

“I am delighted to welcome John to our board of directors,” said Jennifer Rumsey, chair and CEO of Cummins.

“John joins our board with deep expertise in our industry and in leading strategic, technology-led growth and expansion initiatives, which will be an asset to us as we continue to execute our growth strategy and lead our industry through the energy transition.”

For more news on industry appointments, click here

Everrati Automotive, a technology company known for its advancements in EV powertrains, has appointed Nigel Gordon-Stewart as an advisor to its board.

Previously Gordon-Stewart has worked with brands including McLaren, Lamborghini and Koenigsegg. His most recent appointment involves growing Everrati’s worldwide network and trajectory, particularly in the e-mobility sector.

Everrati founder and CEO, Justin Lunny, said: “Nigel’s extensive experience in automotive luxury international expansion makes him a huge asset – we are proud to have him on board.”

Gordon-Stewart added: “Representing the best in sustainable luxury and the highest electric engineering quality, the brand has a bold vision, and I am thrilled to join a team of such well-versed professionals and innovators.”

For more Everrati news, click here