New CODA CEO Phil Murtaugh, shown here while GM's China boss.
Phil Murtaugh, a name long associated with the emergence of the booming Chinese automotive market, will be testing his skills in another emerging automotive market.
Murtaugh, who helped put in motion General Motors’ commanding presence in the Asian nation before signing on with Chrysler’s Chinese venture, will be moving to California to serve as the chief executive officer of the electric vehicle manufactuer CODA Holdings.
“We are thrilled to have Phil guide our team into its next stage of rapid growth in power battery systems and electric vehicles,” said Mac Heller, CODA’s Executive Chairman. “Phil is an industry veteran with large scale manufacturing, sales and marketing experience who has the precise combination of skills necessary to lead CODA’s mission to transform the auto industry by accelerating the adoption of clean, zero emissions technology.”
Murtaugh landed in China in 1996, when the potential for significant growth was, at best, controversial, and former General Motors Chairman Jack Smith was taking fire for his decision to invest in a country that had far more bicycles than automobiles. Through 2000, Murtaugh served as Executive Vice President of Shanghai GM, and then, from 2000 to 2005, as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of GM China, overseeing a growing list of GM joint ventures.
During Murtaugh’s decade in China, GM’s presence grew from 15 employees in its Shanghai operations to 15,000 employees throughout the country while increasing the unit’s revenue from $300 million to more than $7 billion. Today, the maker is the number one auto manufacturer in China – in 2010 becoming the first company to ever sell more than 2 million vehicles in the market in a single year.
In an unexpected move, in 2005, Murtaugh left GM, signing as Executive Vice President, International Operations for the U.S. maker’s Chinese partner, Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation, or SAIC.
But then, in another surprise move, he joined Chrysler, serving as Chief Executive Officer, Asia Operations. Though its Jeep brand was the first Western automaker to enter the country, Chrysler had failed to take advantage of the surge in Chinese automotive demand and was desperate to increase its presence. While at Chrysler, the maker grew sales in China by 30%.
Most recently, Murtaugh has served as a Director with mega-supplier Lear Corporation and as a consultant.
In his new role, Phil Murtaugh will serve as CODA Chief Executive Officer, and has also been appointed a member of CODA’s Board of Directors.
He is the latest in a string of one-time Detroit executives to sign on with the various electric vehicle manufacturers hoping to carve some market share away from more established, traditional car companies. Jim Taylor, former head of GM’s Cadillac and Hummer brands, recently signed on as CEO of Amp, while long-time Chrysler executive Mike Donoughe took on a similar role with Bright Automotive.
“Phil’s OEM and systems and solutions expertise, and his experience overseeing more than 15 vehicle introductions on three continents are exactly the qualifications the Board of Directors has been seeking,” said CODA Chairman Heller.
CODA has struggled, of late, and has delayed the introduction of its new all-electric vehicle, which many believe will be critical to the brand’s viability.
Murtaugh said he was looking forward to joining CODA, declaring it, “impressive to see all that they have accomplished in such a short period of time, from the formation of international partnerships to green technology breakthroughs that are truly world class,” Murtaugh said.
“I am convinced that the commercial and practical widespread adoption of EVs will succeed, and CODA is best positioned to lead this movement,” Murtaugh said.
Meanwhile, Miles L. Rubin, CODA’s founder and Co-Chairman, will retire as Co-Chairman but continue his active involvement as a Director and the company’s largest shareholder.