An executive who once helped Ford develop its first hybrid models for North America on Thursday joined a hybrid battery joint venture.
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Johnson Controls-Saft Advanced Power Solutions today named Mary Ann Wright as its chief executive officer.
The company is a joint venture between major automotive supplier Johnson Controls and France-based Saft Groupe and specialises in hybrid batteries.
Wright will be responsible for accelerating the growth and executing the launch of hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric vehicle battery programmes with emphasis on state of the art technology, manufacturing and electronics integration.
In addition to leading JCS, Wright will also be vice president and general manager, hybrid systems for Johnson Controls, reporting to Alex Molinaroli, president, of the supplier’s power solutions unit.
Wright was previously head of engineering, product development, commercial and programme management at Collins & Aikman, a supplier currently operating under US Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, and which is being broken up for sale of individual units.
Prior to joining C&A in February 2006, wright was director, sustainable mobility technologies and hybrid vehicle programmes at Ford, responsible for all hybrid, fuel cell and alternative fuel technology development, and chief engineer of the Ford Escape Hybrid, the domestic industry’s first full hybrid SUV, launched for model year 2005.
She began her career at Ford in 1988, holding a variety of positions in finance, product and business planning, and engineering.
Wright is known for working 15-hour days, according to US trade publication Automotive News.
