14/08/08

Executive with global automotive management experience joins Norwegian electric car producer Think

Richard Canny joins a world-class automotive executive team to hit foreign markets

Fotogallery Think is presently scaling up production of the fully-electric Th!nk City for the Scandinavian markets, and is planning to expand sales operations to other European markets and the United States in the near future.

To help Think accelerating its growth plans and compete globally in the rapidly emerging electric vehicle market, the Norwegian maunfacturer has appointed Ford Motor Company executive Richard Canny as its President and Chief Operating Officer. Two Swedish automotive veterans, Mikael Ekholm, and Arne Degermosse had aleady joined Think's leadership team.

Canny was most recently Worldwide Director of Strategic Planning at Ford Motor Company, and has a rich global automotive management experience at Ford. About his role at Think Canny expressed his optimistic view on the future of electric vehicles, saying "The electrification of the automobile industry has reached a tipping point. Think is positioned to capitalize on this trend and is placed where the future of the automotive industry will be".

Think CEO Jan-Olaf Willums said "Richard brings twenty five years of global automotive experience to Think which will help us greatly in growing the company quickly and increasing our international presence. His extensive background at Ford in both strategy and operations will be ideal to help guide Think as we grow. Together with the two new Swedish automotive managers, the new team has together 66 years of experience working in Ford, Volvo, Saab and VW, Think is well placed as we move to larger volume production".

Mikael Ekholm, who has many years experience in managing manufacturing operations with both Volvo and Saab, is appointed Executive Vice President, Engineering and Manufacturing. Arne Degermoose, a veteran Saab and VW launch manager, was recently appointed to run Think's assembly plant in Aurskog, outside Oslo.