Ricardo has announced the appointment of Karina K. Morley as global vice president, controls and electronics.
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With more than 20 years of automotive engineering experience, Morley will serve as global product group director for Ricardo’s rapidly growing worldwide controls and electronics business.
In this role, she will report to Chief Executive Officer David Shemmans. Morley also joins the Ricardo US senior management team as a vice president reporting to President Jeremy Holt. Morley will be based at Ricardo’s Detroit Technology Campus and US headquarters.
Currently, the controls and electronics area is Ricardo’s highest growth segments globally, fuelled by rapid growth of electronics penetration in vehicles, growth in mechatronics and increasing complexities related to supply chain and system integration. The controls and electronics sector is a vital element of the company’s technical strategy – supporting its involvement in hybrids, fuel cells, advanced gasoline and diesel engines, efficient transmissions and drivelines, and complete vehicle development.
“Demand for electronics-based automotive features is projected to grow steadily over the next decade, requiring rapid development and broad-based technical experts”, Shemmans said. “Karina’s leadership will accelerate Ricardo’s growth in this area, which has been built through recent investments, including our acquisition and successful integration of automotive software specialist Tarragon Embedded Technology Ltd. We are strongly dedicated to continuing investments and building further momentum is this strategic business area.”
Prior to joining Ricardo, Morley served as powertrain control electronic director for Visteon Corporation, where she lead a global organisation of 400 engineers.
Earlier, Morley served as powertrain controls senior engineering manager for Visteon, where she led the development of new technologies, including ionization ignition controls, electro-mechanical valve actuation and controls for harsh environments.
Before this, she was climate control design engineering manager.
Previously, Morley was a chassis and climate control electronic design engineering manager for Ford Motor Co., where she led teams responsible for the design of new products, including electronic modules for new technologies such as 42V, electric hydraulic power assist steering, electric steering, brake-by-wire and active tilt control systems.
She began her career at Chrysler Corp. in 1984 and transitioned to Ford in 1988 as an audio applications engineer and served in various engineering and management positions of increasing responsibility, including: audio business planner; audio and instrument cluster systems applications supervisor; manufacturing manager of international service assignments; outside sales cruise control supervisor; and quality manager.
Morley earned a bachelor of science and a master of science degree in electrical engineering from the University of Michigan in Dearborn and a master’s of business administration in international business from Wayne State University in Detroit.
