The FISITA UK Board today makes two non-executive director appointments - Mircea Gradu, PhD, FSAE, Chief Engineering Officer (CEngO) of Ballard Power Systems and David Schutt, PhD, Chief Executive Officer of SAE Group.
Dr. Mircea Gradu is the Chief Engineering Officer of Ballard Power Systems, leading the product development toward the next generation of low-cost, high performance fuel cell engines. With extensive executive-level experience and a successful track record of high-volume product deployment in the automotive and commercial vehicle industries, Dr. Gradu started his career at Daimler-Benz AG in Stuttgart, Germany, continued later as Vice President of Transmission Powertrain and Driveline at Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and led Engineering and Quality at Hyundai Motor America. He also played key engineering leadership roles at Timken and Schaeffler Group, and most recently held the position of Senior Vice President with Velodyne Lidar. An SAE Fellow, Dr. Gradu has been awarded 56 patents on mechatronic automotive systems, was honoured with the SAE Edward N. Cole Award for Automotive Engineering Innovation and listed among the 50 most influential Automotive Executives by Motor Trend.
"I am excited to join the FISITA UK Board and honoured by the opportunity to continue my decades long dedication to supporting the leading professional organizations in the mobility industries", comments Dr. Gradu.
Dr. David Schutt oversees the global management and operations of the +$160M SAE Group, consisting of SAE International (SAE), Performance Review Institute (PRI), SAE Industry Technologies Consortia (SAE ITC) and several subsidiaries and joint ventures. Dr. Schutt’s 15-year tenure leading the SAE Group has seen significant growth in its scale and scope of services it provides the mobility industry. Prior to joining SAE Group in 2007, Schutt worked at the American Chemical Society (ACS) in several executive management positions.
"As a long-time partner in the FISITA community, I look forward to helping steward the organization toward greater value for the mobility industry and the general public”, says Dr. Schutt.
Chris Mason, FISITA CEO says, "the FISITA UK Board is delighted to welcome both David and Mircea to the group. Their extensive executive and technical experience will enhance the current Board of mobility leadership well. With their combined 40 years of service to advancing mobility technology and design engineering in mind, the FISITA International Connected Community stands to benefit significantly at a critical time of evolution for our industries.”
Dr. Gradu is also a former President and Chairman of the Board of SAE International and delegate of the FISITA Council. Dr. Schutt serves on a variety of not-for-profit and for-profits boards, national commissions, and local business organizations alongside acting as Vice President, Finance on the FISITA Executive Board.
As members of the FISITA UK Board, Dr. Gradu and Dr. Schutt will collaborate with:
Chief Executive Officer: Chris Mason, CEO, FISITA
Chair: Graham Hutchins, COO, NCL Technology Ventures
Deputy Chair: Richard Gotch, Richard Gotch Ltd
Non-Executive Directors:
Remi Bastien, Honorary Chairman of NEXT MOVE, member of the Shift Project and Delegate General and Treasurer of FISITA
Jo Foster, Executive Director, Making the Leap
Katie Milbourn, Director of Group HR, Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders Ltd
Nick Reed, Founder, Reed Mobility
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