Proterra Inc. announced the addition of Dave Rich as chief financial officer and Bill Fay as vice president of sales. These hires come to Proterra with a wealth of automotive and transportation industry expertise and will play a critical role in Proterra’s growth plans.
Rich brings 23 years of financial and business leadership experience, including 19 years in progressively responsible roles within Ford Motor Co., in the areas of corporate business development, corporate capital investment and automotive cash. Most recently, he served as chief financial officer at Toyota Boshoku America, where he oversaw several acquisitions and helped to significantly increase profitability. He holds a Master of Science and a Bachelor of Science degree in finance from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Fay comes to Proterra with more than 20 years of industry experience and a proven track record of developing, implementing and executing go-to-market strategies. He most recently worked for Clever Devices as vice president and managing director of North Carolina operations, where he led the Clever Care sales and service organization along with all OEM relationships. Before Clever Devices, he held senior management positions with Digital Recorders, TwinVision, ElDorado National Bus Co., and Blue Bird. He received his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Lowell in Lowell, Mass.
“Well-run sales and finance functions are critical to the success of any organization, but they are even more important to Proterra at this stage of our development,” said Garrett Mikita, president and chief executive officer, Proterra Inc. “Proterra has enjoyed significant expansion over the past several years, and we have found professionals who are committed to creating the culture, processes and results necessary to sustain and augment this growth. We are confident that Dave and Bill, with their depth of experience and strong skill sets, are the best candidates to lead these areas as we continue to drive growth.”