Posawatz is the third Fisker CEO this year, so far.
Fisker Automotive today named Tony Posawatz, the former head of the Volt program at General Motors as its new Chief Executive Officer, its third CEO this year. The current CEO Tom LaSorda will stay with the company in an “advisory” role. LaSorda was only appointed CEO in February 2012 after joining Fisker two months previously. Fisker stopped work on a plant in Delaware this spring since it couldn’t meet the terms for more funding under a Department of Energy loan worth $529 million.
In a statement the controversial loss-making company – it has never earned a profit since its 2007 inception with sales of 1,000 cars – said Posawatz is a veteran with more than 30 years of experience in product development, strategy, program management, manufacturing and quality at General Motors.
Posawatz’s last role was as GM’s Vehicle Line Director and key leader of Global Electric Vehicle development, where he was responsible for the award-winning Chevrolet Volt – bringing the car from concept to production.
Starting in August GM eliminated all vehicle line director and vehicle line executive positions in an attempt to increase accountability and streamline decision making. (See GM Restructures Global Product Development Again )
“Tony is the perfect CEO for Fisker,” said Tom LaSorda, who may or may not remain as chairman. “He has been at the forefront of the industry’s technological revolution and one of the few people in the world to bring an EV to mass production. Part of my assignment at Fisker was to recruit a long-term CEO and I cannot think of a better person than Tony to take us forward. He is a real product guy for a product driven company.”
Fisker Automotive also announced the appointment of Joseph Chao as Executive Vice
President and CEO of China and Asia. Chao has more than 30 years of engineering, manufacturing and international business operations knowledge from GM, Chrysler and Daimler Chrysler where he served as President and CEO of Beijing Benz Ltd. Most recently, he served as President and CEO of SG Automotive in China. Fisker said he would prepare for Fisker’s entry into the Chinese market later in 2012.
“Joe is a seasoned veteran and someone that I have worked with for more than 20 years,” said Tom LaSorda. “He has outstanding experience in China and will be a great leader to launch the Fisker brand in both China and the rest of Asia.”
Fisker also announced the appointment of Alberto Gonzalez as Vice President of Manufacturing. Gonzalez brings more than 30 years of global automotive manufacturing and assembly experience from Chrysler where he operated high-volume assembly plants in the US, Mexico and Canada.
See:
- Fisker Automotive Makes Tom LaSorda CEO
- A123 Recalls Lithium Ion Batteries Shipped to Fisker, Others
- Fisker Shows Atlantic EV – Will It Ever Be Built?
- Fisker Expands Karma Battery Recall for Potential Fires
- Penske Automotive Adds a Fisker Dealership in Arizona
- Taxpayer Funded A123 Systems Claims Breakthrough Battery
- Fisker and Leonardo DiCaprio to Work on ‘Sustainability’
