Proterra Inc., a leading innovator in commercial vehicle electrification technology, announced that Gareth Joyce, who currently serves as president of Proterra, will succeed Jack Allen as chief executive officer and join the company’s board of directors, effective Jan. 1, 2022. Allen will retire as CEO and continue to serve on the company’s board as non-executive chairman at that time.
Allen said, “It has been a privilege to serve as CEO of Proterra, and I could not be more proud of how we have come together to redefine the commercial vehicle industry. Since I joined the company’s board in 2017, we’ve grown tremendously, expanding our technology, scaling our operations and delivering more EV solutions to customers every year. With our public listing now behind us and the company bigger and stronger than ever, now is the right time for me to retire and transition and focus on serving on the board. Gareth is the right person to lead Proterra forward into its next phase. He has extensive experience building and running high performance organizations and an intimate understanding of Proterra’s business. Our board is confident he will lead the execution of our growth strategies and advance our goal of realizing a future of clean, quiet transportation for all.”
Joyce commented, “I am excited to lead this great organization and build on the momentum we have created. I know first-hand how our technology and the purpose-driven nature of our company have set Proterra apart from our peers and positioned us for long-term success. Thanks to Jack’s leadership, Proterra has a strong foundation in place. As the race towards a zero-emission future continues, I am confident we will continue playing a central role in electrifying the commercial vehicle sector for years to come. As CEO, I will be committed to working with our incredibly talented team to provide customers with best-in-class electric buses and technology, growing our share of the EV market and creating long-term value for shareholders.”
Jeannine Sargent, chair of the Board’s Nominating and ESG Committee, said, “Today’s announcement reflects the board’s thoughtful approach to succession planning and talent development. During his time with Proterra, Gareth has proven himself as a leader, strong operator and customer-oriented innovator. The board believes Gareth is uniquely positioned to drive Proterra forward and generate sustainable value for our shareholders, customers and other stakeholders.”
Sargent continued, “On behalf of the entire board, I would like to thank Jack for his invaluable contributions as CEO. With Jack’s guidance, Proterra has emerged as a leader in the electric vehicle technology revolution with scaled operations, sound business fundamentals and a strong financial profile. We look forward to continuing to benefit from Jack’s expertise as non-executive chairman, and appreciate his ongoing dedication to the company.”
Joyce has been with Proterra since 2020, most recently serving as president of Proterra. Prior to joining the company, Joyce served as chief sustainability officer for Delta Air Lines, overseeing Delta’s $1 billion commitment toward becoming carbon neutral and leading the airline’s Global Sustainability team. Joyce has also held a variety of senior leadership positions with Mercedes-Benz throughout South Africa, Europe, and North America – his last role being chief executive officer of Mercedes-Benz Canada. Prior to his time at Mercedes-Benz, Joyce held positions with IQ Business Group, Standard Bank South Africa, Blick PLC, Austen Security, and Deloitte & Touche.
Joyce currently serves on the board of Compass Materials, a leading global provider of essential minerals.
Joyce holds a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from the University of Witwatersrand and a Master of Commerce in Business Management from the University of Johannesburg.
CFO
Also, Proterra announced that Karina Franco Padilla has been appointed chief financial officer, effective Jan. 1. Padilla brings more than 25 years of experience overseeing corporate and business unit finances.
Padilla most recently served as senior vice president of Finance, North America Chief Financial Officer at JELD-WEN. At JELD-WEN, Padilla also served as senior vice president of Finance, Corporate Planning & Analysis and Investor Relations. Prior to joining JELD-WEN, Padilla also held leadership positions at Ingersoll Rand, including as Interim chief financial officer of the Latin America business unit and vice president of Finance, Corporate Planning & Analysis.
Padilla also held a variety of leadership roles at Dell Technologies, including as director of Investor Relations and an international assignment in Mexico City as chief financial officer of Dell Mexico with teams across Mexico and Central America.
Padilla holds a Bachelor of Business Administration Accounting from the University of Texas at Austin and Master of Business Administration from St. Mary’s University. She is a certified public accountant.
Changes to the Board
Additionally, Proterra announced that, in conjunction with Joyce’s appointment, Ryan Popple will step down as a director on the company’s board. ML Krakauer, a proven technology executive, has been appointed to the board and will join the Compensation Committee. These changes will become effective on Jan. 1.
Krakauer formerly served as the executive vice President, chief information officer of Dell Corporation, where she was responsible for global IT. Previously, she served as the executive vice president, chief information officer of EMC Corporation. Prior to that she served as executive vice president, Business Development, Global Enterprise Services and executive vice president, Global Human Resources for EMC Corporation, where she was responsible for developing and executing a talent strategy in support of the business strategy, including executive and employee recruitment and development, compensation and benefits, acquisition integration and succession planning. In her earlier career, Krakauer led large businesses as chief operating officer, Technology Services & Solutions and Managed Services at EMC Corporation, and vice president/general manager of multiple services businesses at Hewlett-Packard Corporation, Compaq Computer Corporation, and Digital Equipment Corporation.
Ms. Krakauer currently serves as a director of Xilinx Inc., an adaptive and intelligent computing company, DXC Technology Co., an IT services company, and Mercury Systems, a technology company serving the aerospace and defense industry.
Ms. Krakauer holds a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from Princeton University and a Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School.
