Carbon Revolution has announced Robert A. (Bob) Lutz will become Chair of the Board. Mr Lutz has an extensive background in the automotive industry, including being Vice Chairman of General Motors.
Mr Lutz said, “I am excited to become Chair of the Board of Carbon Revolution at this transformative time when the Company is disrupting the global automotive wheel market with its unique lightweight carbon fibre composite wheel technology. Carbon Revolution is the only company to produce and sell carbon fiber automotive wheels at scale.”
The appointment of Mr Lutz as Chair follows the appointment in November 2023 (at the time of the Company’s listing on Nasdaq) of Mr Lutz and three other US-based experienced automotive executives, Jacqueline A. Dedo, Burt Jordan and Matti Masanovich, to the Board. With the listing complete, James Douglas will step down as Chair and retire from the Board. Lucia Cade and Mark Bernhard will also be retiring.
James Douglas said, “I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved at Carbon Revolution over the past 12 years and my role in it. I am delighted that Bob has agreed to take on the role of Chair to lead our Company in the next stage of its development. His experience, networks and stature in the industry will be enormously valuable to the next stage of development of Carbon Revolution. I also want to thank Lucia Cade and Mark Bernhard for their partnership, hard work, and commitment.”
Mr Lutz continued, “With our recent Nasdaq listing and appointment of US directors, the Board is going through a natural evolution as we continue our capacity ramp in Australia and contemplate further global expansion.”
“I sincerely thank James Douglas, Lucia Cade and Mark Bernhard for their extraordinary and longstanding contributions to the Board. James Douglas has provided outstanding leadership as Chair for the past 12 years – seeing Carbon Revolution become a Nasdaq-listed advanced technology company with a growing customer suite of world-leading car brands. Lucia Cade has contributed enormously to creating a dynamic culture as Chair of the Remuneration and Nominating Committee, as has Mark Bernhard, with his deep experience and networks in the automotive industry,” concluded Mr Lutz.
Mr Lutz has served as a director since November 2023 and brings significant board and executive experience in the automotive industry to the Board. In addition to his role as Vice Chairman of General Motors, Mr Lutz held various positions at General Motors from September 2001 through May 2010, including Chairman of General Motors North America, Vice Chairman of Product Development, and Vice Chairman of Marketing and Communications. Mr Lutz also served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Exide Technologies from 1998 until 2002 and served on its board of directors until May 2004. Before his service at Exide Technologies, Mr Lutz served in various positions at Chrysler between 1986 and 1998, including as President and Chief Operating Officer, and at Ford Motor Company between 1974 and 1986. Mr Lutz earned a Bachelor’s degree in Production Management and a Master’s in Marketing, both from the University of California-Berkeley. Mr Lutz served as a jet-attack aviator in the United States Marine Corps from 1954 to 1965 and attained the rank of captain.
To complete the Board transition, and as contemplated in the Structured Equity Facility with Orion Infrastructure Capital (“OIC”), Chris Leary and Jonathan Magaziner of OIC will shortly be appointed to the Board.
Following this transition, the members of the Board will be Bob Lutz (incoming Chair), Jake Dingle (CEO and Managing Director), Jacqueline A. Dedo, Burt Jordan, Chris Leary, Jonathan Magaziner, Matti Masanovich and Dale McKee (Chair of Audit and Risk Committee).
