Three new Drive Electric board members appointed

Drive Electric has appointed three new board members – Jenny Cresswell (Hyundai), Moonis Vegdani (Counties Energy/OpenLoop), and Katherine Sandford (UBCO).

“This talented group of directors has a diverse range of professional and sectoral experience, which will add genuine value to Drive Electric and the e-mobility ecosystem,” says incoming board chair Kirsten Corson.

“Our immediate priority as a board will be to engage the incoming Government on the acceleration of e-mobility in New Zealand.

“We want to work with them to accelerate uptake in all forms of e-mobility, from cars, bikes and mopeds, to commercial vehicles and trucks,” Corson explains.

“Success will depend on many factors, including the way we harness the generation and distribution of renewable electricity.  

“This year we had a record number of applicants for board roles, which is testament to the work Drive Electric is doing and the rapid uptake of electric vehicles across the country.”

Hyundai chief financial officer Jenny Cresswell is a chartered accountant and has experience across automotive and logistics, says Drive Electric, adding Cresswell is also an experienced director in the not-for-profit sector and is committed to the mainstream adoption of electric mobility, and creating a cleaner transport future.

Counties Energy/OpenLoop group chief strategy and transformation officer Moonis Vegdani is a digital/technology and transformation executive with enterprise, scale-up and start-up experience, as well as not-for-profit experience., says Drive Electric.

“His career spreads across consulting, energy, fuels and digital services industries, with key experience in infrastructure, utilities, renewable energy, digital products, and new energy services.”

Drive Electric adds that Vegdani is committed to driving towards a sustainable and customer-focused shift towards a net-zero economy.

UBCO business development head Katherine Sandford has 30 years of international technology executive and governance experience in corporate and early stage companies, and not-for-profits, including as chair, sasy Drive Electric, adding that Sandford has a particular interest in micro-mobility and the role two-wheeled EVs can bring to meeting New Zealand’s emissions goals, and reducing congestion in urban areas.

 The appointments will be taken to the membership for confirmation at Drive Electric’s 2024 annual general meeting.

At Drive Electric’s AGM in September Kirsten Corson, Annette Azuma, Tim Calder, Eric Pellicer and Dennis Kelly were reappointed for two-year terms.

Outgoing board members Mark Gilbert, Dean Sheed, and Duncan Stewart were awarded lifetime membership of Drive Electric at the AGM, joining Ewan Morris, Rob McEwen, Soichiro Fukutake, and Hideaki Fukutake.

The board includes chair Mark Gilbert (retiring December 30, 2023), incoming chair (January 1, 2024) Kirsten Corson, Baker Tilly Staples Rodway business advisory services director Annette Azuma, independent director Richard Dellabarca, Kings Plant Barn chief executive Matthew Bailey, Meridian Energy emerging markets and innovation lead Tim Calder, Powerco business development general manager Eric Pellicer, FleetPartners pan Tasman fleet director Dennis Kelly, and EO Charging APAC managing director Sam Steele.